THE STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1654, 22 January 1913, Page 7

THE STRIKE.

POSITION AT THE CITYfMEAT WORKS. AND AT WAINGAWA. NO SIGNvOF SETTLEMENT. ' j, Tho only ruohour of Importance, yesterday relating to tho strike of slaughtermen hero and elsowhoro was that tho Waingawa Meat Company had dccflded to pay 30s. per 100 on sheep or .lambs killed. Tho report 'caused somo surprise, "but as a telegram from Masterton shows, it turned out to bo without foundation.

Now tho only speculation a 9 to wliethor tho strike will break' down, or tho companies .will succeed iu manning tho boards with non-unionists. Very many people who 'understand what is going on hold to the opinion that this season will bo wholly or in great part' lost.';

Everything was quiet at Pctono yesterday. Thero was no excitement of any sort. Tho shopkeepers appear to have recovered from their, first alarm that tho striko would spell ruin for them. It will certainly mean decreased business, but after all thero aro a great many pcoplo in Petono who'aro in up way dependent on tho meat works.

Tho idea that tho striko may bo broken, by the formation of a new union apart from tho Slaughtermen's. Federation is not supported in. union, 'cirolcs. Tho , secretary (Mr. M. J, Rcardon) states that tho suggestion was too absurd to need refutation. In support of this opinion thoro is tho fact that tho slaughtermen aro about the best united body of workers in Australasia, for more than half of tho menlwho work in tho New Zealand sheds work also in Australia. On, tho' other hand, thero aro men who .work regularly at'tho Wclling : ton works, and olio of these expressed tho opinion to a Dominion representative yesterday that the Gear! and Ngahauranga' men would have been content to accept tho 275. 6d. offered by tho companies if the South Island, men had not held out for tho demand of 30s. ','.'' 7 '

The City Housewife and the Meat.

No shortago in tho supply of meat for local consumption, need be anticipated. Ordinarily, w considerable quantity of moat for the retail trado coinos from botli works, but'this coai nowbo slaughtered at the abattoirs;with the stock sent in on account of thoso master butchers who always buy their fat. stock alive. It may bo that tho slaughtermen, at tho abattoirs may need assistance, and tho union is offering no objection to any of tho men now out of work taking employment .there, whero tho'rate of pay is by, daily waeo. .; ; '; ', '' ' .' Matters at Pctono and Ngahauranga.' All the slaughterhouse hands at'Pctono and Ngahauranga aro now out of work, and tho fellmongery men will.probably finish up in a day or two., Sonjo of tho men in tho preserving department: have' already donb all the work • in. sight, and,.as tho slaughterhouse is shut dewn, it,' is certain., that.: in' a day or two all tho-employees in this branch of the works will bo paid off." Tho fresh moat .is now all in the freezer, and there, will be no work for tho hands to do except occasionally; when a ship is to 'bo loaded. !.' \ J It is impossible •■ that the Gear Company's manuro works will closo; for some time.: Those works aro -usually kept go-. ing during the off, season. None of tlio' permanent engineering staff, , and the blacksmiths and other artisans employed round tho w.orks expect to be dismissed^ WAINGAWA WORKS, ' RUMOUR . STARTED, BUT DENIED.

(By TcleEraph.—Press Asnooiatim,) : ." Masterton, January 21; . So far as tie Waingawa.works are concerned, the position is considered to bo very uncertain. Tho slaughtermen have given notice to coaso.work on January 30, but they-frankly state, that they would prefer to continue operations. A report was in circulation to-day that the. company had offered 30s. per hundred to tho men,-but inquiry shows'that this is without It is not considered that any more will bo made by the company, if made at all, until after Friday next,'.' .;,,...; Local slaughtermen are of opinion that no response will bo made to tho invita: tion of the 'Wellington conference to accept 275.,. 6d. per. hundred.' . ■.-.!'•,.

SHEEP OWNERS'PROPOSAL. Christchurch, January. 21. A meeting of tho Sheep Owners' Union decided to writo to tho chairman of tho freezing companies and tho secretary of tho union asking.that matters in dispute bo rcferredcto tho Conciliation Council -or Arbitration Court, both sides to abido by tho decision. ...;.-' ... ERRONEOUS REPORT. Timaru, January 21. ■'■ The statement published this morning that, tho meat companies had given notico to the Smithfield and Pareorn butchers that their services would not bo required after next Thursday is incorrjjet. ■ ■",.. The only announcement made,by the companies is that the men must tender a reply to tho offer of 275. 6d. per 100 not later than Thursday, seven days after'the offer wqs made. Tho notico given by tho men expires on January 29. - | IN AUCKLAND. Auckland, January 21'.' The slaughtermen's strike does not affect' tho Southdown works. Although registration by the union lias been cancelled, tho men ore working under an award which does not expire until October 1. . ,-'■— ■— — [ • AT HASTINGS, ( V Hastings, Jnnuary 211 . Thero are no further developments in connection iwith the slaughtermen's dispute. Work is proceeding as usual at Tomoana and Pakipaki Freezing Works, and no notico of intention to cease-work ha 9 yet been received by eithor of tho companies.' ' , : OAMARU WORKS. , / Oamaru, January 21. Killing re-starts at; the Eveline Works to-morrow. It is understood tho butchors havo given tho Christchurch Meat Company notico of their intention to ccaso work on February 1, unless tho demands of tho union aro complied with. Local members aro said not to be very much in favour of the strike movement. The prospects of another fortnight's kill-' ing are viewed with much favour, especially by small farmers dependent on quitting stock to moot tho kills,