Matters Still in Statu Quo.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8683, 16 February 1907, Page 5

Matters Still in Statu Quo.

According to the "New Zealand Times,'' Mr Cooper says he has washed bis Imads of the trouble, and is leaving Wellington to spend a few days in the country.

The strikers resent the action of the Labour Department in connection with the dispute. They consider that its interference is an attempt at coercion, and they declare that they will not.be coerced.

Mr C r P. Skerrett has bwu retained to appear before the Arbitration Court for the Union and men, who have been cited for a breach of the industrial agreement made under the proA'isions of the Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation Act.

All the strikers at Petone and Ngaluvnranga—ll4 in number —have been summoned for a breach of the

industrial agreement

It also transpires that the beef butchers at the Wellington Meat Export and the Gear Meat Companies' works have followed the examine of the mutton butchers, and after killing sufficient bullocks to supply the local demand, to-day, they too are goingout on strike. This course is being taken as a mark of sympathy with the mutton butchers, and has nothing to do with the rate of pay.

The decision to strike was arrived at yesterday afternoon, and the employers wore notified shortly afterwards.

As soon as the beef butchers cease work, the balance of the employees at the works will be also thrown out of work. This moans that some thirty or forty more men will, for the time being, be unemployed.

Both the companies have sufficient frozen beef iv stock to supply the local demand, but until the strikers resume work, or fresh hands are put on iutheir place, no moat can be prepared for export purposes.