SLAUGHTERING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1122, 9 May 1911, Page 2

SLAUGHTERING.

[ ,HOW'.FARES THE'TRADE? ■ . A UNION .'SECRETAIIY'S- OPINIONS; jj "The Gear Company has had. the best season of any company in New Zealand," remarked Mr. Al. J. Keardon, secretary ! of tile Slaughtermen's Union, who • has just concluded a tour of the South Island meat works. The Gear Company, continued Mr. Reardon, has been going at practically lull time since the beginning of the season, but now, of course, the season's work was practically ended, as only the shop work is ;being done. At tk'o Islington works—the second largest in New Zealand—they had . had a, very fair run, especially during the last three months in which period scarcely any time had been lost. Tho Belfast works also had been kept busy, but, whpn Mr. Keardon was at the works, it was expected that tho season would come to an end shortly. Tho other Canterbury works (I'areora, Smithfield, and Fairfield) had only had a moderate season, this being ascribed to the drought. It was found necessary to close up the Oamaru works altogether for the above reason. At Burnside (Dtinedin) they were having a good run at the time of Mr. Heardon's visit, but tho Southland Companies had not got properly started. There they resorted more to rape and turnip feed than in tho north, and tho season is very much later. It practically commenced at Easter time,' just, when the other works wcro expecting to clo.se down. ••■ lhe Mataura works were- doing very little, because of the abnormal-supply-of rabbits, which took up 'the whole of the freezing accommodation. As a result, to be sent to the Southland Meat Company's other works at AYallaceville Taken altogether, said Mr. Reardon, tho season in the North Island has been a poor one, with the exception of the Gear works,' and in the South Island* has only been moderate. This is the workers' view, and what affects the workers naturally tells on the companies. W hilsin Korth Otago, Mr Reardon went as far as Kurow-alxmt .40 miles nhnd from Oamaru, and a district which ad suffered most.from the drought. The farmers in that vicinity asked the Minise- for Railways to make some concession to allow starving stock o be carried -to feed and water, or to alow feed to becarried to the stock. The result, sad. M-.Heardon, was-an. indefinite; reply m he direction of 'setting up a Board of Ii nuirv. The farmers, he added,. ..ere very ndignant, and thought it a queer time to talk of setting up.a commission en stock was on the Vfrgeo starvation The conditions under .which the slaughtermen live and work in the South Sid not impress Mr. Reardon. At several of the works the conveniences for cleanh„U wcro absent, and there were no chan«ing or lunch rooms. At Pnreora. th company is about to make special provision for homes for he men, .and also ntonds making an eftort to provide them with work during.the off season, so as to keep them on hand all the year round. Reverting to the condition of some of the works, Mr. Reardon was surprised that official notice had not been taken of it At one place, ho said, the mon on the killing board had to hang their clothes a few.feet away from, their workin" stand. The agreements under which the men worked did not provide,for. the erection of baths and lunch-rooms:for the use of the men, although (hose were, considered essential because of the nature of the work. The agreements, however, expired after next season, and, if the companies concerned do not voluntarily provide means for cleanliness, a move would probably be made by the federation to have it made compulsory.