THE SLAUGHTERMEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1645, 11 January 1913, Page 4

THE SLAUGHTERMEN.

A HjITCH ABOUT: CANCELLATION,

■ Alarm was raised in tlio. Slaughter* men's Union office yesterday 'oyerthe non-appoarauco .in this week's Gazette of tlio final notico.of cancellation of tho union. Tlio notico had- boon sent iu duly, and as tho requisite term of nottco expired on Thursday, it was: expected that tho cancellation would be coiriplotcd, at once. Tho Labour Department, howerror, is holding'up the cancellation for inquiries that havo, to bo' made. Tha Dcpoi'tment must inquire as to wholhor a majority of the men in tho industry really voted- for. secession. ' If this'.« found to bo so. registration of tho union will" bo' cancelled without delay. It ought to bo explained that this inquiry, is never mudo until after tho expiry 'oi the torm-of notico, ' . '

An interesting feature of tho business is that tho number of: men now engaged in tho slaughtering; industry is at least double tho number in it two months ago, when tho ballot was token.; Tho opinion of soino of tho mon could not linvo boca taken, for tho very good reason that they were not in the'country. Two-month* ago tha season was just opening; now it is in full swing. If tho Department considers this fact au important, ono, permission to cancel may yet bo refused, If the cancellation is not allowed, tho men will bo liable to penalties in tho event of their striking. Tho slaughtermen; it may bo remembered,' were the n)jst-body of workers to defy.tho strike clauses of the Arbitration Act, aud to incm; penalties under them. That notion cosli them upwards of .£IOOO, ' Fines .of J!5. were inflicted on 2GG men, and over J2IOOO of tlioso fines was collected.' On this occai rioii 800 men'ore involved in the trouble, and fines of £5 on every them would mean JMooo—a; high price to pay for dofying tho,-law. 'It is possible; also that tho men might bo fined thcuiaxi. mum amount, which is .€lO, Tho score* tnry of tho union, Mr.M; J. Roardon, has .written to tlio Minister for ". Labour, tho Hon; W. F. Mnssoy, urging, that cancellation should ; be granted by tho Labour Department \rithout delay. ..■' .-,