BUTCHERS' STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1661, 30 January 1913, Page 5

BUTCHERS' STRIKE.

PRESENT POSITION. THE COMPANIES' ATTITUDE. It is not expected that any very import* , ant dovolopment will, occur in tho dispute between tho slaughtermen and tho meat export companies ' until after tho conference nt which representatives of all tho companies in the Dominion aro ex- . pectcd to assemble in Wellington tomorrow. .

"Tho companies aro not idle," tho representative of ono of tho big local firms Void a reporter yesterday, "and wo shall see what wo shailsee!" ' •:,.;,

Obscure as it is, the remark sums un . • " tho position at tlio moment. ' Tho local companies are playing whatever ; , parda •' they hold quietly. On the other hand, there aro indications that they do not ' intend to submit lamely to tho demand by which, they are faced. , ,■' . .", Tho altitude of tho slaughtermen and their representatives seems at the moment to bo that of Mr.llicawber in Dickens—"waiting for something to turnup." ••They are frankly hopeful that the small companies and small farmer* ■ will bring so much pressure to bear upon the bigger firms as lo induce them to .' abandon tho firm attitude which they have so far llininfcaincd. ',':.", Mr. W. Tripe, secretary of tho Gear Meat Company, declined to make ■ any, statement when-ho was approached yestor-;. day, but said that tho companies wore, - very firm in tho attitude they had taken up.- • Asked whatho thought of suggostiona that tho 6iuallor companies in tho Do-, minion would appeal to the larger con-' corns to grant tho 80s. a hundred demanded by tho slaughtermen, Mr. Tripe indicated that ho attached no credenco to • these reports. ■ ~, . i Mr; \\. G. i'oster, managing director of tho Wellington Meat Export Company, wag equally reticent in regard to tho general position, but ho alluded to a published statement that a' section of tho farmer* of • tho Dominion were in favour"of granting' tho increase demanded by the slaughtermen rather than face tho loss ontailed in holding up the season,•. As, proving, that any such statement was groundless,.',-Mr.' ioster remarked that no resolution ask- , ing tho companies to givo way. had beca received from any body, of farmers. On.' »-• the other hand, tho companies had re- . coived from tho Dominion Executivo of tho Farmers' Union an assurance of its , approval of tho attitude thoy had taken up ■ ■ in resisting tho men's, demands. , ;

/ IN CANTERBURY. (By Tclograph—Pr<*s AfiSocJation.),; ,'"'..' . ' ' 29. ',- In accordanoo'with their avowed ,inton« • tions,' tho slaughtermen at work at' thai Canterbury Frozen Meat Company's (Bel* fast) works and the Christchurcii Meat Company's (Islington), works ocased 'work yesterday afternoon; when tho killing pons, wero "cutout." -■•'• ; ~. : Tho most vital point at. issue' is tho .', matter of an increase in the killing rates, Tho men desire payment at tko'rato o£ 30s. per 100 for ordinary sheep and lambs,' instead of tho lato rate of 255. per 100,:"; and an increase of ■'Gd.- per l 'head for slaughtering, cattlo.\ ■'■, ."'■ Tho export of sheep and lambs for ' the past twelve months is approximately 5,520,000. Anincrensc of ss. per kuadrcd would therefore mean an audition, to freezing , charges, etc.; of about: .£13,500. i Tho • sum seems a largo one, but. from' tho slaughtermen's point of'view, the gains to ••' them are not considered unreasonable. It is estimated- that there ,are about 900 slaughtermen at work in various factories ,iu tno Dominion, ?and tho increase will mean that each man would average a littlo over £ib extra for his season's work.

It is certain that the strike is anything but popular witln other workers'in freezing works, who have nil necessarily, to bo paid off, in cousequenco of the .slaughtermen ceasing work. None of these men opr pear to have any serious grievances with regard to their conditions ofjw.ork or into °f-.'pay. and) in unguarded moments ono may. hear very strong expressions of opinion indeed As to tho butchers' actions, There, will be about twenty-four.hours' work for about half tho hands after tho slaughtermen. "down tools," but,: after that, only a few engineers and carpenters will be kept on at thoso works.where re. pairs nnd renovations are needed. By this evening practically everything ,willbe finished up at •Bolfast.'.'ahd tha works will 'close unless a'boat'oom&ii in, and then come of'the meat in'store will be .shipped. . ■. ?v. ,-•. . •"'.•'

BUTCHERS' RESENTED. 1 : i (By Telegraph-Press Association.). '.''.-' ;■''■ .'■■'-'. Chrlstchurch," January 23,' The Tcmnletoa correspondent <o'f-, th» Tress" telegraphs that very generat'aiid i sincere regret is being already felt through Islington, Hornby,' Templcton, and Prebbletoii; districts at the action of the ' slaughtermen in refusing to agree-to the : ". most reasonable terms offered them lb con-' ' tinuo the -killing- of fat iambs fthd • fat sheep. Men, and especially their wives and. families, are grasping the'fact that , the slaughtermen have made-'a mistake, n:id that their refusal :t6iaccept reason.: : able terms has o far reaching, off eel, and. will be a very serious loss to them. One ; effect was painfully obvious:.'yesterday : afternoon, when somo sixtv-five' ablo- v ' bodied men left (rood, well-pmd-f oi ; "work, '■: grass seeding and harvest ,wurk, on Banks .Penmsuln, and travelled by train into Christchurch. -.: v,-. ■,'■,■• .. L- '-.'.-