SAGGING RAPIDLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1686, 28 February 1913, Page 6

SAGGING RAPIDLY.

THE MEAT STRIKE. FINISH OP A CLEAN FIGHT. Tlio Petono and Ngnhauranga slaughtermen on strike hold a meeting in AVellington last night, but information as ,to what decision, if any, they arrived at,was refused. A reporter was informed yesterday, on good authority, that over 0110 hundred slaughtermen, old unionists, had applied to be reinstated at tho Canterbury works (Islington and Belfast), on the companies' terms. Both local companies report satisfactory progress and increasing outputs, and at cach board additional men are being put on every day. UllO company representative remarked that very little room would be left for cx-slaughteruiou" at cither of the local works by Monday next. The general opinion is that tho meat strike is at an end. A feature of the situation is that although the contest between companies and. men has been a long and keen one, it seems to have left no bad feeling in its wake. Comparisons very much in favour of tho slaughtermen are drawn between tho circumstances of the meat strike and the Into happenings at AVaihi. One company representative remarked yesterday that tho slaughtermen had no doubt been unreasonable in their demands, and therefore wrong in going on strike, but that, apart from their initial mistake, they had fought a clean fight. There had beejx nothing nasty, and in fact a complete avoidance of anything that could be described as unpleasant tactics. The men had got a certain amount of fun out of their more or less successful attempt to hoodwink the companies by mingling with tho free labourers as "learners." and for a time had got on the blind side of the companies, and earned the right to laugh. "Well," concluded the company man, "I can laugh with them, even though I don't quite endorse their tactics on iihis occasion." S6lllO exception is taken by Mr. M. J. Eeardon, secretary of tho Slaughtermen's Federation, to the lino of action adopted by the Labour Department in connection with tho proposed formation of a new union of. slaughtermen at Ngahauranga. Mr. Eeardon complains that the Eegistrar of Awards failed to notify him, in accordance with tho provisions of tho Arbitration Act, of tho proposal to form the new union. Eeardon contends that, as secretary of the existing Slaughtermen's Union in this district, lie was entitled to be informed of tho proposal, in oruer that' ho might furnish the Department with grounds of objection. Had no grounds of objection 'been discovered by the Crown Law Officers, 110 added, nono would havo been submitted, and possib'; the union might have been registered. This would have creatod a ridiculous situation, sinco two unions representing tho same industry would then have existed in the local industrial district. Mr. Eowley, Eegistrar of Awards, stated yesterday that he intended to notify tho secretary of tho existing union of the proposal to form a new union, but, up to last' evening, Mr. Eeardon had not received any communication from the Labour Department on tlio subject. ' It' is understood that tho application of the new union for registration has been refused. _. , • HAD ENOUGH. 1 " SOUTH STRIKERS' DECISION.. • (By Telograph.—Prese Association.) Christchurch, February 27. The SlaugEtermon's Union hold a full meeting yesterday afternoon, but tlio reporters were informed that there was absolutely nothing for publication. Evidently, however, tho result of the .meeting was communicated to other centres, ■and to-day unionists wero pressed to state '-whether or not it, had been decided to return to work. It is now stated that the union has agreed to abandon the strike; and has left members free to apply for. work.