SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 25 November 1930, Page 11

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

SYDNEY'S MEAT SUPPLIES. ATTITUDE OF VICTORIAN MEN. (urrrrr.D teess association —st ei.ecte.ic TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received November 24th, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 24. Fresh meat supplies for Sydney are almost exhausted as a result of the slaughtermen's strike, but the master butchers have arranged, with the assistance of their staffs, to kill stock in country centres. Union representatives have been sent into the country to picket the abattoirs, and to watch for non-union slaughtering. Advice has been received by the local union secretary that Victorian slaughtermen have declined to do any killing for New South Wales. They have algo informed their employers that any attempt to force them would lead to an extension of the strike.

awnings and flags, and an orchestra was in attendance. The tug left the ferry wharf and berthed at the oil-wharf on the far side of the inner harbour. Mr H. T. Armstrong, chairman of the Board, presided, and members of tb« Board and their wives were present. Prior to boarding the vessel, Lady Bledisloe was presented with a bouquet by Mrs Armstrong. After the loyal toast had been honoured, Mr Armstrong said the members were deeply indebted to their Excellencies for giving them so much of their valuable time. He expressed the gratification of members of the Beard for the honour their Excellencies had done them by accepting the Board's invitation. The members of the Board present represented an area stretching from the Conway river, in the north, to the Rangitata rivsr, in the south, with a population of 183,000. In some of his public addresses hi 3 Excellency had expressed the hope that he would be able to maintain the high standard set by his predecessors. The speaker thought it was unnecessary for their guest to have any fear in this respect. In the short period he had been with them he had shown a great interest in the conntry, especially in primary industries, on which the prosperity of the country so much depended, and education, and 'in art, music, and sport, and in the siclt and needy. These things had already endeared him and his good lady to the people of New Zealand. The Board was whole-heartedly with the Governor' General in his advocacy of Empire trade, and they would do their best to do their part by keeping the port ap-to-date in every respect. As compared with similar bodies in the Old Country the Lyttelton Harbour Board was only a "baby". Lyttelton was equipped with all modern appliances, and, for a railway port was the most modern in Australia and New Zealand. They could safely berth the largest liners visiting; the port which had a depth of from 26ft to 3Sft, with an available berthage of 12,235 feet. After all the improvements made the Board had not found it necessary to increase the port charges, but actually had reduced them. Of course at present motor traffic did not have access to the wharves, but th« Board could hardly be blamed for tha | hills between the Port and City. "When the right time came they would have a tunnel-road, or else remove the hills, I (Laughter.)

Lord Elodisloe's Response. In replying, Lord Bledisloo said ko" found it difficult to express adequately his appreciation for the courteous welcome they had received, and to reply to the chairman's complimentary and enlogistic references to himself. "Ton* chairman," said his Excellency, "im not only eloquent, and not only proud of your port, but has a measure of faith that will evidently move mountains. (Laughter.) You have a tunnel—a much-talked of tunnel, that, like tho old underground railways in London, was once smelly but is now smelly no longer, which carries a large amount of merchandise annually. Though further improvements may be made, I do not think it will be superseded for many years to come. I seem to have heard that certain attractive waters going by the name of Heathcote are deemed to be suitable for a port. This might happen in time, but I do not think it will happen in the ne'xt—say—twelve months. (Laughter.) You have a certain amount of Public Debt, which, as you know, for a small country with a population of under one and a quarter millions, is quite as much aa you earn conveniently carry at present." Education and the Children.

His Excellency said that he and Lady Bledisloe took a special interest in education, because in the present competitive age it was of thte highest importance that the children should be properly equipped. He had seen in this country some of the fineßt educational institutions in any part of the world. At present he was not sure they were getting full value for their expenditure in this direction. Their secondary schools were of the highest type. He had a large measure of sympathy for the present Minister for Education in seeking to provide a rural bias in the schools. Bnt there was a great danger of early specialisation, particularly of a rural character. On the other hand if the young people were taught, the rudiments of rural economy, and above all, to use their eyes and hands, they would become far more useful members of the, community whatever work they did ultimately. Empire Trade. With regard to the chairman's advocacy of Empire trade he must point out that, however attractive foreign trade may appear, they simply could not afford to give preference to foreign manufacturers. "To-day," said his Excellency, "it is the very essence of economy, as well as shrewd common sense to buy goods from those who buy goods from yon. I do not wish to pretend that New Zealand or British goods are necessarily always the best in every line. I wish that they were, and we should all nee our best endeavour to make them so. But whether they are or not, in view of the present financial condition of this country it is the patriotic duty of every New Zealander to give preference to commodities produced in New Zealand or Great Britain over those coming from any foreign country. By so doing the financial position of the Dominion would be materially improved, and unemployment would become less serious." He thanked the Board for their hospitality. It was the first time sinee they parted from the vessel that brought them to New Zealand that Lady Bledisloe and he had partaken of a meal oa board ship, and they had thoroughly enjoyed it—embellished as it was by beautiful music.