SLAUGHTERMEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 8 January 1913, Page 7

SLAUGHTERMEN.

GIVE NOTICE TO CEASE WORK. IN FOURTEEN' DAYS. Tho slaughtermen employed , in tb«', freezing works at "Petono and Ngahauranga havo given notice of intention to ceaso work in a.fortnight, This notice is required in order to avoid liability to penalties wider tire. Arbitration Amendment Act of 1908', ; which provides that no fewer tlion.U days 1 ! notice must, be given in writing of inebntion to ceaso work in certain specified industries' in order to mako a strike' ■"/■ ■lawful.!.: ■;; :'',■ :• ■■■■ . - ■,-. A strike cannot', of course, bo : lawful in „ any. circumstances if tho workers , concerned iiro'mcinbors of a union under the Arbitration' Act. Among the specified industries mentioned in the section iss "Tho slaughtering or supply of.meat for domestic consumption." ■.'•■".■' ~. No■ strike of the slaughtermen could at present bo, lawful, becauso their union is registered under the Arbitration Act, but ■■'■.' notice of intention to cancel registration : has,been given, and tho cancellation will bo complete in "respect of all the. unions ; of slaughtermen in New Zealand in less . than n fortnight. Also, it would bo un- ■ lawful for tho men to strike during the, ■ currency of air Arbitration Court award made in 'respect' of their industry, but th< .■•■•. award affecting, the slaughtermen iii Wcl< lftigton district'expires on January 17 ( After that date it will be possible to* ;, the butchers; to strike: when, they please without incurring penalties. ■ '.'■'' In actual fact' the notice of U day» .'''.'. was scarcely ,necessary, for, as appears from the provision in r tho Act quoted■'"',,.' above, notice, is necessary only if [the , slaughtering is of meat "for doraostio con- ■'■, sumption." ~■ A ■ considerable, quantity of '■.:.' meat for domestic consumption" is killed ' and dressed both at the Ngalmuranga, and ";; Petono'vorks,'but itds infinitesimal com- •.'.. pared with tho quantity; slaughtered foe . •■;■' export. " ''' ■'•■'■ . ; ' ■'■ ■<:■'. '•' It should' be stated also that the notice is only, provisional at tho moment, bo-- r cause a ballot is being taken now on tho' question of whether tne men will accept the terms offered by tho'conipanies to the y '.' : .< men somo days, ago.' Tho' butchers now ■'■••;.." receive 255, per hundred sheep or lamb* •. ~ billed and dressed, and' they have modo ; a demand, for 80s. I'ho companies re-..:"'. fused to I grant ijthis Tate, but.-nfter : a : time they met ,in; conference,; and then an offer of 275. Od. was made to butchers ■.•: both in ..the INorthj and South Islands. If, of course, .the:ballot is in.favour of ; C ■ an acceptance of the company's offer, tho trouble is ended,:and tho notice; toccaso: Work will lapse. Ifi ; oit the other hand,: theineii refuse to accept 275. Cd., thero .■•';'•. may bo industrial trouble in the meat ox-.... port industry.' ■ ■'■.' ~.',.■'•'.; ' .If there should bo »■ cessation-of work, '\ and stock has to,be \kept ,]# the.fdrm'iars, ■ ', the prime sheep which should be at oncekilled and frozen will, of course, consume more pasture, and in individual c'asei. graziers may, bo inconvenienced. But gen- . : ','* orally the- pastures in. Wellington pro- .; vinco this year are exceptionally abundant, and' tho..country: is under-stocked*!'if ;Fecd is.going to-wasto i in, many'places. V; Nevertheless, a stoppage' of'work for how- ' j ever short a period will decroaso the' total '<■ ■ amount- : of frozenrmeat'.exported.. 1 '■..•..:'.:. '■