DEPOTS OPENED

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 5

DEPOTS OPENED

j TO SUPPLY MEAT. ! BUTCHERS REMAIN ON STRIKE, FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE IDLE. FRESH MEAT SCARCE. By TelegrajUprsss Association -Copyright (Rec. February 18, 8.15 p.m.) Sydney, Feruary 18. Butchers, who went on strike because the emfioyers failed to concede their demands i'or a 4,8-bouir week and an advance, of 10s. weekly in wages, I are still out. I . The Master Butchers opened two city depots to-day and one at Rockdale in order to supply meat. A force of police ' was detailed to keep back the crowds, ( who were eager to obtain supplies. I Members of the Workers' Union refused to cart the meat to the depots, but the masters managed to arrange the transport, •fho intervention of the Labour Council is regarded hopefully by responsible men in labour circles. Mr. Estell, Minister of Labour, continual his efforts at mediation throughI out yesterday. He had two interviews with ttfe masters-* committee, and suggests 1 that the committee confer with lite union delegates. This suggestion was declined on the ftroiiutl that no possible good would result. The committee made a counter-suggestion-—that Mr. •Estell, the secretary of the Labour . Council, and the Industrial, Commissioner confer with the men with a view to resuming work on the old conditions; The executive of the Labour Council has considered the suggestion. An effort made to get into touch with the Meat Industry Union officials fa'ed. The latter, however, were inio r iui-d of tho position from another s>oi>rce, butstated that the proposals were u» good to them. At Cabinet's instructions Mr. Estell resumed mediation to-day. He is hopeful of finding a way out, tfcougn ho insists that the Arbitration Act must be observed. Ho spent tho_w]iole morning in interviewing both sides to the dispute but the results of the interviews have been withheld. The Secretary of the Labour FedfiJation of Australasia says he has been watching developments, and is prepared to afford any help required, but the Federation had no idea of a'general strike. The dispute should bo confined to the meat industry. A meeting of the Grand Council of the Australasian. Meat Industry decided to work all frozen meat intended for export, but tho question of distribution in tho city was postponed to a meeting on Friday nest. • This is interpreted to mean that if tho coaneil so decides the cold storage employees will be asked to 'strike in sympathy with other employees in the industry; Fresh meat is still available in the suburbs and the Country, but there is none in the eity.' Unionists explain that no stock was purchased on their behalf at yesterday' sj stock sales because there were no slaughtering facilities available. Practically the whole of tho abattoirs space, is leasee! tis carcass butchers. The strike has already rendered idle 4000 persons, including 200' carcass carters. MR. HQLMAN TAKEN TO TASK. FOR PHILOSOPHISING WHILE SYDNEY IS STARVING. (Rec. February 18, 8,15 p.m.) Sydney, February 18. The "Sun," in a leading article on tho meat strike, says.: "Mr. Bolinan. is. not a Noro nor anybody half as heartless, yet the.ro is much satiro in find-: iilg the Premier philosophising in Now j Zealand while Sydney, is starving. It ■ would bo more interesting to road' cablegrams exchanged between Mr. Carmjohael and M.r, Holmaft, the two most ostuto brains'of the Ministry, than to study daily in the Press the confessions of members of the Cabinet that they can do nothing with the Butchers' and .Slaughtermen's Unionsj and nothing with tho employers, 'who are spoiling for industrial fight,' So far as the present trouble has gone, neither Mr. Estill nor M.r. Flowers, tho Ministers immediately held responsible for this labour dispute, seems to have spoken' with any weight or influence, while other responsible members of the Cabinet, have remained silent. Mr.. Holman's airy sermons in Now Zealand on social USirest ara a joke in trye seriousness, when o.no considers his position as Premier in the grave difficulty confronting seven hundred thousand people in Sydney. Tho most. amazing; feature of the whole situation is the ab» of any announcement that the Premier is immediately returning, instead of spending his time as the eloquent guest of the New Zealand Club." POSITION IN MELBOURNE. PEN-CLEANING TROUBLE OVER. Melbourne, February 18. The trouble over pen-cleaning has been settled, and the slaughtermen' have resumed work; but, the butchers' shop employees have made claims bringing them into line with tho Sydney. men's demands. They demand a conference within forty-eight hours. Failing a settlement, they leave work on Friday morning; The masters granted; them a conference to-day. IRON TRADE DISPUTE. MORE OF THE MEN REFUSE WORK, (Rec. February 18, 9.40 p.m.) Sydney, February 18. Another hundred men struck at the Clyde engineering works to-day. It is anticipated that two thousand men,will be out at tho end of Hie week. Tho dispute has extended to Ritchie's engineering works at Auburn, where 150 ni.cn refused to commence,work. A mass mooting of iron t-rado unions is called for to-night.