MEAT STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1674, 14 February 1913, Page 6

MEAT STRIKE.

PLENTY OF FREE LABOUR, FULL BOARDS NEXT WEEK. Tho seriousness of the slaughtermen's strike is lessening daily as reports are received from different meat-freezing centres of tho manning of the boards by free labour. At the Wellington Meat Export Company's works at Ngahauranga 45, butchers were engaged vesterday. Tho management Teports that applications for hooks are still coming in, and the number of killors employed to-day will ba considerably in advance of the number engaged yesterday. A start was made yesterday at Ngahauranga with the slaughter of cattle.

At the Gear Meat Company's works at mono tho new hands aro reported to bo doing good work. Each day sees a marked differenco in the quality of the work, and those engaged at present are dressing tho carcasses and flaying the skins as cleanly, if not as quickly n* experienced hands. The men aro rap'idlv Qualifying _ns first-class slaughtermen This morning there will bo 60 men on the boards, and tho end of next week r!n!?'i- Tt Iv i w,' en '«R«l- An official report states that the men are ea&er fnr engagement, and as tho result an" excellent selection is beinpr made.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH

GOOD .PROSPECTS AHEAD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

Christchurch, February 13. -I He present position with regard to tlio trouble with the slaughtermen is improving. It is reported that at all the works in Canterbury more butchers started this morning, and that applications nre coming in still from men who are anxious to take up work. Some of the men who have applied, and whose services have been accepted, have not yet started work, as in some instances they are at present in tne country, and in other .instance they have to give a week's notice, to their present employers. So far works are not fully manned, and it is not expected that the full output will be obtained for some time. In the meantime it is considered inadvisable for farmers to rush their stock into the market. Since there wero large numberssto come forward it would bo impossible to deal wi th them expeditiously. .Applications for slaughtermen's work are coming from all parts of the district, and judging by present indications the number at present manning tho boards will be greatly augmented during the next few days.

THE DUNEDIN WORKS. GOOfr SUPPLY OF LABOUR. Dunedin, February 13. The Burnside Freezing Works were opened to-day with 13 men on the boards. They put through between 500 and GOO sheep. The work on the whole was carried on very satisfactorily, and it is anticipated that more men will be at work to-morrow. It is. understood that a meeting of slaughtermen was held on Tuesday evening, but nothing has transpired with regard to tho 'business done. Tho South Otago Freezing Works at Balclutlia opened on Tuesday, and everything has been running, smoothly. Thirteen men are on the board, and aro working satisfactorily. IN SOUTHLAND. THREE AVORKS REOPEN. Invercargill, February 13. Killing started at Mataura, Occan Beach,' and Makarewa. Freezing Works today, 1G men being employed at Mataura, a similar number at Makarewa, and 10 at Ocean Beach. These were all that wero required by tho companies in the meantime. The officials of companies state that they are satisfied with tho initial start, and that the men engaged include expert slaughtermen, though not members of a union.