LENTEN SEASON

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1993, 26 February 1914, Page 5

LENTEN SEASON

FACTOR IN STRIKE.

SLACKENING DEMAND FOE MEAT,

PRICE OF FISH 'LENGTHENING,

BOTH SIDES WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph-Prtes As3Dcfa;ti<sn-CoDJrig!it (Kcc. February-2-5, g.g p.m.) Sydney, February 25. Butchers whof were wovlaitg timkr n.n award in Sydney, and who ceased work on February 9 becatise. tlio employers lailed to concede, their desunisds for an eight-hour week and.an advance of 10s, weekly in wages, are still on strike. A committee has been appointed by Cabinet, consisting of Mr. Holman, Mr. I'iStell, and Mr. Flowers, to deal'with strike matters. Tlie commit toe is working quietly. Its members decline to disclose the direction or the effect, so tar, of their efforts. They conferred twice to-day with representatives of the men. : c . , Outwardly tho jMsition is iincliangcd. Everything is quiet, both sides waiting tor tlio Government to raiikn a more. ' The depots wore opened early ftttel closed at .me o'clock, the employers being determined to run w> risk of'mfriivgnig the statutory batf-iioliday. One of two riiore depots wore opened, .though the supply is still far below the fl.ema.ncl. The management ims greatly improved, the unseemly crushing and crowding lining largely averted. Tlio commencement of tho Lenten season is a factor in the staeleemng demand for meat, ami tho consequent further lengthening jn tho prict of Uh. Being practically tt'jthoart meat perforco for a fortnight, rwi-;)ents of Sydney are dovoling much tinio to self* persuasive arginiwait on the qHesiimi ris to whether or not it is better to bo without' animal fortd. Qn present zppearances they will bo given time to reach a decisive 'conclusion.

It is'calculated that by the end of the work the rlojmts will }>avo netted about ,£20,000. .'Some nf tho master butchers, who weed compelled to dos« are reported to he desirous of seeiuypf, division of tlie profits, which so far has not been made. Local hacon and sviiall-gaods sispplfes are practically exh-.wsted. The iveeMy calf sales wore hold te-tlay Inn wore a failure. Only two buyers attended. The Moat Industries Omniiiittef has forwarded a. further letter to Mr. EsteH (Minister of LiiflmtrJ, /efl-iphasms; tho fact that the employers had never refused to allow tlio m<?H to continue at work upon the' terms existing is Hie award. The committee fes also issued a long statement showing how diirifjft three and a half years various braivclies of the industry have hoen harassed by members of the Employees' Union, iij epito of the fact that their earaihqs iii many, cases had been increased by 50 per centum. The employers Jmvo received no reply to tins or tiie previous communication. Any meat coming to Sydnev that lias been killed by men employed by masters who have not signed the union's agreement is declared "Mack,"

EAHLY ; DEVELOPMENTS LIKELY. (Rec. February 25, 5.30 p.m.) Sytfnoy, Fobi-aary m.' ■ Tho master butchers .iro'-sittmg' m close conference, discussing a communication from ti'o Cabinet,, Early developments are possible. MASTER BLTCFERS.FATING OUT RELIEF,, (Roc. February 26, 'J, 16 a.m.) Sydney, Februat y t5. At a lato hour to-inght, the (Miiipt Committee had iioth-|ng "to report in regard to strike settlement- efforts. A definite movo will, it is anticipated, ba made to-morrow. The Master Butchers' Committee mado the first distribution from the vnlief fund to the small suburban, butchers, whoso shops are closed.

SETTLEMENT AT, M£LB&URNE, EMPLOYERS' TERMS ACCEPTED. Melbourne, February 25. . By a largo majority, the employees decided to accept the master butchers' oilers for a settlement. IRON TRADES. MASTERS WANT NO PIECEMEAL SETTLEMENT. Sydney., FeJfmuiry 33. The. ironworkers' dispute- was 'discussed at a Cabinet meeting., but was entirely overshadowed by the meat 6trike. If the trouble is not ended, nsit only Foundry employees, but 'builders, bricklayers, and carters! inpit will be. involved by the end of the lvook. The Employers' Association has forwarded a letter to Mr. J. B. Holme, Uiidor-Sccrctary fw Labour, to Hit effect that any proposals for a sottfc-' ment will brivo to Up made for tlw lvhfllo body of strikers; tlio aiftstovs will haveno piecenipal sottlement. It is estimated that sixty foiintlrks are affected, and 8080 men kilo. JUDGE HEVDON TAKTNa ACTION, (Rcc. February 26, 0.30 a.m.) Sydney, February 25. The jron trades' strike has not altered. 'Judge- Hoytlon,will to-morrow consider tho possilwlity of foopenjng tho award over which tto treimle oecurred. THE BAKERS, MASS MEETInTtO BE HELD. Sydney, February 25. A mass meeting ef tlio -t'-edeMtetl Opeviitivo Uakers' tj»iou \ws bN>ii called for Saturday next to cmisitler tile qncstion of a ballot in favour of ceasing work.