THE SLAUGHTERMEN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 February 1913, Page 5

THE SLAUGHTERMEN

'THE WELLINGTON 1 " COMPANIES

WORK TO RESTART. STRIKE REGARDED AS OVER. '(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The anticipated restarting of killing at the local meat works, ig regarded as an indication that the strike of slaughtermen may be regarded as over. The managers of the works do not expect "any trouble with the men in other departments, as a result of the utilisation of free labour, of which plenty is offering. POSITION AT IXVERCARGILL. SOUTHLAND COMPANY DETERMINED. STRONG WORDS BY CHAIRMAN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) IXVERCARGILL, Last Night. Speakino- at the annual meeting ot the Southland Frozen Meat Company, the Chairman of Directors, Mr John McQueen, said that this time the companies were determined to make a stand and decided to make an attempt to fill the factories with free labour. So far as they had crone, thev had met with encourage-m-ent, leading to the conclusion that thev would obtain sufficient labour. He'regretted that a number of marTied men, who had been with the Southland Frozen Meat Company for years, and lived in the neighbourhood would find that' their omipa-, tion was gone, unless they moved very quicklv in applying for places. Fie would' be sorry to see married men victimised by a lot of young fellows, who could put their swags on_ their back, and go on to Australia, or through the country, following other occupations. An attempt had been made to make the last award run for a term of five years, but the president of the court would not cxtacnd| it to bevond 3 years, and the leaders of the men- gave the companies the j assurance, that at the end of the j term, they would use their best endeavours,'but the slaughtermen not agree to such a course. The j companies had found no difficulty in j arranging the conditions with the ] local Union, and had fixed up an I agreement, but it had to be sent to] the Federation, who turned it down, because it was encroaching on the functions of the Executive- in Wellington. This Executive was composed of men, who/no doubt, received good salaries, and. wei'e required to do something to justify those salaries, and he was inclined t6 think that those gentlemen would, owing to bad generalship, find their occupation gone. He hoped! this would be the result of their action. (Applause.) The local men were surrendering their personal and handing over their rights to' others. This was unmanly and degrading; but that wap their business.' Every man had a right to make a fool of himself if he wanted to. As to the slaughtermen and any other employees they might find it neces- • sary to engage in consequence of j any dispute, he would continue in { the company's service. It would! not matte r if the slaughtermen came in l a. body and offered their services. They would fight any attempt likely to be made to form a- Union to re-re-gister, and would impom conditions whereby the men who came to the companies' assistance would 1 be turned out. They would not submit to that, and he did not think the Arbitration' Court would give its approval. It would be a case of fixity of tenure with those young butchers.

TN POVERTY. BAY. FREE, L.A.TIOTtt?. WOPTvTNG - "SATISFACTORILY. (By Telegraph. — Press Association.) GISBORNE, Last Night. The Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat -Company concluded their first week's operations Hinder free labour conditions at midday yesterday, and the result is regarded as highly satisfactory. There were thirty-one men 'on the slaughter hoard yesterday morning, and their work is- spoken of .in the highest terms.. The substantial nature of the wages ' offering has attracted numerous inquiries for work, which are coming in from many parts of the district? The only incident that appears to have occurred worth mentioning, is a case of alleged molestation. A couple of the new butcher." at the Kaiti works complained of having been intercepted by sonie persons, who -used offensive terms to them, it is understood that measures will be taken 'to prevent the introduction of any such objectionable tactics. Some internal discus'' sion is reported to have occurred among the slaughtermen themselves, awl the payment of a salaried official, connected with the organisation, is stated to he tho bone of contention. A Federation representative is reported to have waited upon a i.'hvctor of the Tokomaru work?, witn a : offer of his services, to settle the butchers' dispute, but he was courteously informed that no such grievance existed, and the company wore quite satisfied with the work of the present slaughterhouse hands..