SLAUGHTERMEN.
POSITION STILL UNSETTLED, j HERE AND ELSEWHERE. '' . j In a. very few days tho result of tlift /'] ballot being] takori of members of tho Slaughtermen's Union as to whether they i will accept the,wages offered by tho com- ' - pnhieß oi l 'not"should be j It is understood, however, that of the , votes already received tho number ' i (igainst tho companies' proposals is so ,i largo as to miiko it advisable to serve - i on tho Wellington companies a potioo oi i tho men's intention to cease work—in ; other words, to strike. Tho ballot concerns only tho., rato of wages'to be paid, but there is much more 1 ' tlmn this .lit lesuo between the Oomtmnlos i aml.tho Although theiwork ; is* all j 3 paid for at niece rates, tho men demand i rate and a naif for overtime,. and they ■ ! requiro further that only ono hour iB tc 1 bo worked on afiy one daj ; , and that bo- a { foro 8 a.m. Thero is also the difficult? 3 about tho proportion of learners to skilled ' men. At present the proportion .is ono j learner to 10 slaughtermen, but the union . < demand that it shall bo one in 20. Nono' i but. partly skilled men aro ever given tt 1 ' i hook' in a/killiiig shed, and if an improver. is going to learn tho business at '< all he wiu become expert in one year. i The term of apprenticeship is therefore a ' ' ' short one,'and; the number'of new men s who can bo trained is proportionately in- 3 creased, Tho difference on this question 1 ] is held by both sides to bo a most im- l 'j portant ono. Presumably tho union J wishes to limit the number of learners and ■'} to make, tho ■ slaughtermen's union an ■ • "J even oloser corporation than jatiis, and ••>" | the oqmpanies wish'to havo a reasonably ■■ 1 .sufficient' supply! 6f men for tho wort i to bo done. | < < CHANCES OP SETTLEMENT. ' « ■ .(By Telcffrach.—Prosi Association.) ■ Auckland, January 8. 5 , Regarding tho position of, slaughtermen ,-4 i j of , Si" (secretary AUoki ,t i,l land Slaughtermen s Union) informed k | J reporter that it had been-mutually ifrreid '.j upon, thtit- Wellington should bo. 'the-it' 4 'storm centre." In tho meantimo he doesnot. however anticipate that-matters*will) ' 'i reach a crisis, but ho confidently expects' i'ii I ! » mutually satisfactory compromise t6 be v reached within.tho week. The' North! Is. w: : | land-companies, ho vourably to regard tho suggestions' of; the .' ? s men, but tho South Island companies aro' ■: * inclined to hold out. The conditions, that . havo arisen during the past three years' ■ havo been, such that, in. the opinion of" slaughtermen, the desired increaso in pay • - of ss.' per 100 k hot unreasonable. Mr. Sill believes the whole trouble' will be ~ amicably settled,' and that not even 0 * ripple of. it; will Extend to Auckland.' i ; ■J FARMER ON THE I'OSITION. . ' - ; (By Telegraph',-Press Assocta-lion.)' ' - . . Chrislchurch, Januarv 8. ' lhe manageri of the Christchurclx'anl ■ ' Canterbury Meat . Companies: state >' thai .'-v, their -companies have not. yet received! I ! cny notice'of the'intention of'tho Can* , terbury slaughtermen to ccaso, work.' -.v N. L. Macbeth (manager: of: the ■' Canterbury CompanyJ fin tlicr ttated thai as things.were at present, it was irnpo*. , sibie to say-whether the proposed Slriba : would: extend :to Canterbury for. up' iill now, .no definito, decision had been nrrived at as-to whether .tho'men'swould or would !not bo. complied with, * (i - ' ■ Earpiers' interviewed ■on tho subject- ox- -:' ( pressed varying opinions and ono said that ! ho did not' caro much what- happened. ' Hoihought that it would bo quito a good' 1 ' thing for the colony if the slaughtermen' ,: struck: 'Last timo thoy did it," he - do- ~i cured,' vho .'cockies' made thousands, Tho ■ 
Log in