FREEZING INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 10

FREEZING INDUSTRY

I. AN AGREEMENT BEACHED.; - ■?The : chairman .of the. freezing conference iust concluded'in Wellington has made the following statement of the re- [ . eults achieved:— ■• . ■-.;'. i : . '.The conference between-.representatives f. of the' freezing companies and the Enif rioyeee' Association concluded a four- [ • days' sitting on Saturday. The various 1 awards and. industrial agreements gov- ! erning the"relations of the employers.and i the men had expired or were just near I-. a¥ end. Tho object of the •conference !'. was to arrange a new industrial agree-' ' P:eiit to apply to all freezing factories. 1 ■ This was not' an easy task. A. good [..many praoiicaL difficulties were, rncoun- '• ■■ teretl in attempting to reconcile the customs and conditions of all districts. By ■• i, little give-and-take these ..have," it is hoped, been satisfactorily adjusted. The I .npreement arrived at will be for two I- ; years, running from August 31 next. Alter--careful consideration and taking '. into account .the cost of living, the ! recent decisions of tho Arbitration Court I •ac Wellington, Christchurcir, and Dune- ! din. the nature of the freezing, workers business, and its wnut of continuity of service, the minimum wage has been fixed at Is. !ld. The rates, for slaughtermen have been settled at 353. per linn- ! ,<lred for sheep and 325. (id. for lamb, ox !■■■ and cow.beef.2s,. 3d. per head. On minor \ lines a flat rnte is reached generally by j-'. nn increase to existing schedule.rates of ? ]fl per cent. i .A flat rate for freezing. workers ■is | : . reached bv a 10 per/cent, increase in i Misting schedule races. ' . , ■'. Although the new agreement will no. 1 come into operation before next season, ; the new rate? will be.paid as from April i 7.- The negotiations, although prolong- \ ed. were conducted throughout on rea- ! finable lines, the men's delegates urg- -- ins their claims with ability and persev- : I'rancc.