THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1920. THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

Wairarapa Age, 13 December 1920, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1920. THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

The position in New Zculuud iu regard , to the meal industry in must unsatis- ■ factory. Operal ions at. I lie various i works should have been commenced at' leasi a i'ftrt nil;lii ago, Iml they have been held lip ill consequence of a dispute in regard lo wages. The men have demanded an increase of "o per cent., and the companies have agreed to an increase of '22!, per cent, to Ihc hourly hands, and 20 per cent, to pieceworkers. A ballot- of employees was lahen last week, and ,although Ihe men af several of the works agreed to accept the offer of Ihc companies, the majority insisted upon a full recognition of the demands. A deadlock has, in consequence, been reached, and the ''mailer will be referred to the Arbitration Court. There is no guarantee that work will be resinned, even after the decision of I lie Court has been given. Cor the men may refuse to accept Iho award. 'Meanwhile, the settlers of Hie country are suffering a very heavy loss. Slock is already over-fat, and will deteriorate, in value, while the grass that is being consumed by .fats will mean so much less .('or store stock, furthermore, hundreds of settlers will be hard pressed financially, owing to there being no returns from either wool or fat stock. So far as the workers are concerned, the loss in wages will be considerable, and majiy will lind difficulty in securing other employment. The whole situation is most embarrassing. The Farmers' Union should immediately take the matter up, investigate the circumstances that have led up to the deadlock, and adopt such measures as may be ,necessary to protect the interests of the producers. There may, for i aught the farmers know, be influences j at work thai are not associated with the labour problem. These influences, if they exist, should, be dealt with in a proper manner. Arrangements must also be made to deal with the emergency in the event of the deadlock continuing. Every week that (he works are idle will involve a tremendous loss to Ihe Dominion, and this will have to be borne by Ihe whole community. A more serious situation has never arisen than I hat with which the country is at present faced, and it is the duly of every good ciii'/eu (<; use his utmost endeavours in overcome the difficulty. A spirit t: i-oncilia I ion should be fostered, and any attempt low iden the • imlust ral bieach should l>e vigorously resisted.