CONCILIATION TO BE USED IN GO-SLOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17755, 27 January 1926, Page 7

CONCILIATION TO BE USED IN GO-SLOW.

COMMISSIONER CALLS COMPULSORY CONFERENCE.

The go-slow policy at the freezing works, begun on January 8 and continued -ill January 20, was resumed yesterday at two works, Messrs Borthwick and Co.’s works at Belfast and the New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s works at Islington. At those works the killing, after the afternoon smoke-o, about 3 p.m., went down to four animals per man, about one-third of the normal rate. The same policy was resumed at these works at 8 a.m. to-day. No other works in Canterbury are affected up to the present time, and it is reported that there is normal killing at all other works in the Dominion except the two mentioned. Mr F. C. Ellis, secretary of the Freezing Works and Allied Trades Union, stated to-day that he did not know the reason for resumption of the go-slow policy at Belfast and He supplied a copy of the following letter sent by him yesterday to the Canterbury Meat Company, North bury Freezing Company, New Zealand Refrigerating Company, and Thorqgs Borthwick and Co.:

in the freezing workers’ award be amended so as to allow for the following increases, hourly workers Id per hour, weekly and shift* workers 4s per week, slaughtermen Is 6d per 100 on mutton and lamb, all other piecework rates 4 per cent increase.’ “ Awaiting your earl£ and favourable reply.—Yours faithfully, F. C. Ellis, secretary.” Mr W. H. Hagger, Conciliation Commissioner, has announced that as a dispute' has arisen in respect to the union’s request that the Court should be applied to jointly for a variation of the award, in order to give effect to the Court’s pronouncement of September 15, 1925, and as neither party appears willing to make an advance in regard to a further conference, he has summoned representatives of the parties to a conference in his office at 7.30 p.m. on Friday next.

This when a party of British bowlers visited the North Canterbury Freezing Works, work was proceeding usual, &nd there was no indication of any intention on the part of the men to “go slow.” The only difficulty at the works is a shortage of butchers, the company requiring fourteen over the forty-two now employed.

“ Dear Sir, —I am directed by the above union to approach your company with a vieyv to making a joint application to the Arbitfation Court to amend—the existing award as follows; That all clauses dealing with wages