SHIPPING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17544, 10 April 1919, Page 5

SHIPPING.

SYDNEY, April 9. Arrived—Joan Craig, from NewZealand.

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY.

SLAtJGHTERMEN'6 RATES

INCREASED,

Hie conference between representatives of the freezing companies and the Employees' Association concluded a four days' sitting at Wellington. The various awards and: industrial agreements governing the relations of the employers and the men had expired or were just near an end. The object of the conference "was to arrange a new industrial agreement to apply to all freezing factories. This was. not an easy task. A good many practical difficulties were encountered in attempting to reconcile the customs and conditions of all districts. By a little give and take, these have, it is hoped, been satisfactorily adjusted. The agreement arrived at will be Tor two years, running from August 31st next. After careful consideration and* taking into consideration the cost of living, the recent decisions of the Arbitration Court at Wellington, Chri^tu church and Dunedin, the nature of t*he freezing workers' business and its want of continuity of service, the minimum wage has been fixed at 1/9. The rates for slaughtermen have 'been settled at 35s per 100 for sheep, and 32s 6d for lamb, ox and cow beer 2s 3d per head. On minor lines a flat rate |s reached generally by an increase to existing schedule rates of ten per cent. Although the new jagnteftnent wilt) not come into operation before next season, the new rates will be paid as from April Tth. Tjhe negotiations, although prolonged, were conducted throughout on reasonable' lines, the men's delegates utgjirag; theij* "claims with ability and perseverance.