MEAT-WORKS STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 5

MEAT-WORKS STRIKE.

4 WHARF WORKERS RESTIVE, POSSIBILITY OF CONFERENCE. The strike of the hands at the meat ■works at Petono and Ngahanranga was in much the samo position yesterday as on tho first day of the oessation of ■work. This is the ninth day of the strike's duration, and there 33 no sign yet of an amicable settlement, or even of an unwilling capitulation by either Mr. P. Hally got into communication with the men and with the companies yestorday afternoon, his intention being to promote a' conference of representatives of the parties which agree upon terms of settlement. It is understood that tho owners will not further discuss the 8 to 5 day and overtime rates for time worked outside that period, but that they are willing to meet t:he men in conference to discuss other items in the demands submitted. On the other hand it is understood that the men are not willing to abandon their overtime claims for some at least of the work. Their principal grievance is that tho bulk of certain work is required to be done it very early hours in the morning regardless of the amount of work on handOther work must bo done a fixed number of hours after, slaughtering in th© works has stopped. For these duties it is stated that the men will not abandon their overtime claims unless some concession is mad© foT waiting time. A report, which was well authenticated, was current last evening that the wharf workers proposed to tako some action re the handling of frozen meat from the works alfectcd. The waterside men havo not discussed the matter in their union, but under the bureaucratic constitution of the Federation of' Labour they may be ordered not to handle meat from tho two works'. So far as can be learned,no definite action has yet been taken, but the opinion of those in authority is that the federation will shortly take a part in the dispute, at least to the extent of ordering tho wharf men to Tefuse to handle produoe bearing the' Gear or Meat Export Company's brands. Several parcels of frozen meat and tallow have been shipped this week in tho Drayton Grange and the Tainui without any question being raised, but it is rumoured that things may not run so smoothly to-day. STRIKERS OFF. . LEAVE FOR AUSTRALIA. More than one of th© meat workers who have been on strike for the last week left for Sydney by the Moeralcj yesterday evening. One slaughterman said plainly that ho was sick of the whole thing, and was determined to get away to Australia, stating that 'tven if there was a chance of starting again at an early date there was a prospect of being fined for going out without giving tho notice required by law. When told that there were only \"shake-downs" left in tho steerage, ho exclaimed: "Well—that's good enough for me. I'm off! This place is no goocT to mo. Whips of work at good money, but you can't got at it. • Mo for Australia!"