THE MEAT STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 6

THE MEAT STRIKE.

FRESH TACTICS. STRIKERS ON THE BOARDS; AND "GOING SLOW." Rather a now development in tho meat strike was disclosed yesterday by an announcement by Mr. M. J. Rcardon (secretary of tho Slaughtermen's Federation) that members of the unions which he. represents were working in overy shed save ono in tho North Island. Theso men, Mr. Roardon explained to a Dominion reporter, entered tho sheds ns learners, nnd jn that capacity submitted to instruction, and accepted the minimum wago of 15s. per day, which was guaranteed by tho companies. Apparently tho' slaughtermen in some instances succeeded in maintaining tho deception with a good deal of success. Most of them sought omploymcnt in districts other than thoso in'which they had formerly been employed. Exact figures as to the number of union men, who have joined the boards Mr. ltcardon declined to supply, but lie stated that cloven of them ; entered tho Gear Company's works in onoday. As showing how matters (in his opinion) stand, ho put forward this offer: Let the Gear Company give its present slaughtermen (with the exception of the union men included in their number) a holiday, and the union mon remaining will turn out a bigger "tally" for the day than has been, readied on any day since the works opened. Mr. Reardon furthor stated.that three union men employed at Ngaliauranga earned each £2 ss. for three days' work. Two of them had killed each 99 6heop in the three days, and tho other had killed 110. This, Mr. Reardon remarked, was totter pay than 30s. a hundred.: : Rooently it has been stated by tho companies that better work (not r iore work) has been don© by free labourer i than was S* in© by tho ex-slaughtermen.' To this r. Rcardon's retort is that hd .will abide ly results as shown .by London market quotations for tho next six months.; .He adds that he is confident'that'the output friim Waingawa will fctch a better prioe than that of any of tho companies employing freo labour.. _ . Generally, Mr. R-eardon's contention is that the old slaughtermen have accepted employment at 15s. per. day, and are prepared to go on indefinitely killing about 40 sheap per day. . Five unionist slaughtermen, who have been working at Ngahnuranga for some time past, left yesterday. One of their' number' declined' to scrapo out a vein from tho backs of the sheep as directed by tho foreman, remarking that h© had worked for years without being required to do so. Eventually the slaughterman left, • accompanied by four companions Latterly all fivo men -had been working on piecework. ■ . Nothing was definitely ascertained from either sido yesterday as to the number of ex-slaughterinen who havo mingled with the freo labourers on tho boards. It is- a fact, howover, that, the companies havo bsen aware for some time past-that there were unionists on tho boards. Tho position they are understood to have taken up is that the boards were open to any apt)roved- men as freo labourers.' This did not Involve the exclusion of'unionists who cared to return to their employment. ■. Tho companies do not seem to bo at all ■impressed by Mr. . ReaTdon's announcement. Their representative's had - littlo more to say yesterday than that they were satisfied'with tho prospects. Ono company representative remarked that-tho ex-slaughtermen did not appear to have suffered any qualms about undertaking to worlc side by sido with men whon they had designated "scabs."-.

FREEZERS' MEETING AT PETONE. ■ A meeting of tho Freezers' Union was held at Petono this week, for the niirpcse of discussing tho question of affiliating with the Freezers' Federation., There 'was a. good', attendance, and ■ after, a lengthy discussion it was decided to do, all ;possible to induce tho-local union to join the federation.WANGANUI WORKS. Wanganul, February 21. Tho local freezing company now have over thirty men on tho Killing boards, and tho daily tally is steadily ■ improving. Over twenty other applicants are available, and applications from others aro coming to hand daily. , The Makarini has iust completed the loading of 15,000 carcasses in addition to wool, tallow, etc, ■ •