MORE WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1359, 9 February 1912, Page 4

MORE WAGES.

DEMANDS BY MEAT WORKS HANDS. Tho little troublo at the Gear Company's works on Wednesday was fixed up satisfactorily, and work wont ou without interruption yesterday. But a now trouble is on the horizon. Some ten days ago tlio moat works hands, exclusive or tho slaughtermen, at Pctono ami Ngakauranga, submitted a series of demands to the two oomi>anie3 employing thorn for increased rates of pay and for increased pay for overtime, 'i'heso demands were submitted to tho directors, and yesterday a conference took place between representatives of tho employees and of tho men. Mr. C. M. Luke presided. Mr. W. A. W. Grenfcll appeared as agent for tho companies, ami Mr, M. J, Reunion for the men. Tho conference sat all day yesterday until 9 p.m. discussing the wages claims, but the extensive list of demands were not all dealt with, Tho conference will bo resumed to-day. Apart from the increases in wages asked for, which increases arc considerable, the most important of the men's demands is for an eight-hours' day between 8 a.m. and li p.m., and for special overtime rates for work done outside those hours and on Sundays. A great deal of interruption of work is inevitable at freezing works, and it has been the custom hitherto to pay tlio ordinary rales for all hours. As it is said to be impossible to confino certain work' within fixed limits of limo in the day, (ho overtime demands may prove irksomo to the companies.

Our Petono correspondent advised last night that it was current talk in Pctono that the men might very probably "down tools" to-day, if a settlement was not arrived at, but when asked last night about the matter, Mr. M. J. Roardon, secretary of the union, said that ho had no fears of any such thing.