THE CANTERBURY COMPANIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 4 February 1913, Page 5

THE CANTERBURY COMPANIES.

APPLICATION FOR FREE LABOUR. NOT FIGHTING UNIONISM. CHRISTCHURCH. Last Night. " The two Canterbury freezing companies, the Canterbury Prozen Meat andi Dairy Produce Company, and the Christchureh Meat Company—have decided to call, for applications from expert slaughtermen and irom learners to man the killing boards at thoir works. The object is, of course to end the present condition of affairs broucrht about by the Slaughtermen s Union, declining to accept any. lesser .wage than 30s.per hundred- Ihe strike has now beeiii; in existence for neailj -a week. and there are not anting indications) that some' of the steadier -men in the ranks of the slaughtermen are anything but satisfied with the attitude taken, up by the union, and•will be probably willing to resume work on thes übstantially increased rate offered by the companies. The full text of the notices issued by the companies is as follows: "This company is willing to receive applications from expert slaughtermen and learners to commence work on a date to be hereafter specified. Priority of employment will be given in application. " The rate to be 27s 6c: per 100. Learners will be granted a minimum wage of Is 3d per hour until capable of earning more than that by piece work. Full terms and conditions of employment can be seen at the works, or at this office i.e.: the office of either company." It is anticipated that the publication will have the effect of" bringing matters to a head, and will possibly end 1 the present deadlock. Tlie terms arid conditions of employment will be tliose decided upon at' the latest conference of representatives of the freezing companies, which was given in full'in last Saturday's newspapers. iSr George Clifford, when seen by a reporter in respect to the notices isjsued by the two Canterbury companies, stated' that the work of both companies would open with free labour. He "desired the fact emphasised that, as far as the Canterbury companies are concerned, there is no antagonism over, the employment of Ttoion'labour, and every opportunity would be offered' the men who went on to the slnucrhtering board to form a union and become registered under the Industrial Conciliaticvn • and Arbitration Act. The companies were not fighting Unionism, hut only this particular phase of the trouble.