FREEZING DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 12

FREEZING DISPUTE

STORMY MEETING OF HAWKE’S BAY UNION

MANY HOSTILE QUESTIONS

ALLIANCE STILL IN CHARGE OF AFFAIRS

Bv Telegbaph.—Pbess association

Napier, November 23.

A meeting ot members of the Hawke’.s Bay Freezing Workers’ Union at Hastings to-night was addressed by Mr. J. Roberts (Alliance of Labour) and Air. Alcßriue (president of the Auckland Watersiders). The meeting was a stormy one, and a large number of hostile questions were asked, but no opportunity was given to vote approval or otherwise of the Alliance’s action in the present trouble. The only motion put to the meeting was one conveying thanks to the chairman. The result is that the position is unchanged. There is reason to believe that the free labourers will shortly form a union, in which event many of the strikers assert that they will join, if given an opportunity. There is po lack of evidence that unionists in tliis district oppose the course being pursued at the dictation of the Alliance of Labour, but for some reason or other the men lack courage to take charge of the position and conduct their own affairs according to their own wishes.

GOOD PROGRESS AT GISBORNE UNIONISTS DISSATISFIED. By Teleuraph.—Pbess Association. Gisborne, November 23. The position with regard to the two freezing works which have opened is entirely satisfactory. The volunteers who commenced work yesterday are making good progress. '{here were over 650 sheep killed at Haiti works yesterday, and about 500 at laruheru. Alore "butchers came forward for employment this morning, and there are now 26 slaughtermen on the board at Waipaoa and 20 at Haiti. A fair number of those at Taruheru are learners, but six unionist butchers who accepted employment at Haiti are determined to continue, and a number of others on the board there are experienced men. To-morrow more butchers will be engaged at Haiti. It is anticipated that close on 1000 sheep will be killed at each of the works to-day, and the number will improve steadily as the volunteers become more accustomed to the work. . Alembers of the union are not interfering with the volunteers in any way, and it is stated that many are only too anxious to get to work themselves. While there has been no definite move to bjeak awav the union in Gisborne up to the present, there is a good deal of dissatisfaction, and it is probable the lead of the men in Hawke’s Bay will be followed.

NO RESPONSE AT WANGANUI FREE LABOUR TO CARRY ON. Dominion' Special. Wanganui, November 23. This morning a call for labour was made at 8 o’clock at the Imlay freezing works, but there was no response. This did not occasion any surprise. A ' call for free labour will be made at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. Although a feeling of anxiety prevails among members of the farming communitv, this development was not unexpected and the Farmers’ Union was able to make preparations and enrol sufficient labour to carry on. mis has been principally organised a “ lou 8 the ranks of farmers themselves but a number of city residents in . stock agents, have also handed m their names. LONGBURN WORKS free labour fills gaps. Dominion Special. Palmerston North, November 23. The Longburu freezing works commenced operations this al d present needs are being met by volun teer labour. The authorities have further resources in this direction, so that no difficulty is expected. „ pnprnl As a result of a meeting of general labourers, when a warm response was forthcoming to a proposa! that a new union of workers be formed, steps are now being taken in .the direction of reristerinef this organisation. In consequence of this development it was possible lor the works to commence operations this morning, a - though the non-attendance of required the employment of voluntee labour twelve men being availed of from the large offering. Unionists are making no apparent objection to the attitude of either volunteer workers or those men v ho .ire concerned in the formation of the new union.

VOLUNTEER LABOUR TO START TO-MORROW

Dominion Special

Feilding, November ‘23. All members of the local branch of the Freezing Workers’ Union were notified vesterday that killing would be started this morning, but when operations were ready to begin not a man was in evidence. A number had gathered on the railway line adjacent to the works, for observation purposes apparently. but there was no sign of any out-of-the-ordinary intentions. IHe management bad varded a small number of sheep in order, really, to ascertain the attitude of the unionists, but now everything will be concentrated on making a start on Thursday morning with volunteer labour, of which ample is offering.

POSITION OF BACON INDUSTRY

NO INDICATION OF DISSATISFACTION

Interviewed yesterday regarding the position of the bacon industry in relation to the freezing works dispute, hlr. S. C. Baron (manager of the New Zealand Bacon Company) stated that a

wrong impression may have been fathered from a Masterton report o the effect that at a recent meeting, “which decided to support the Hawke s Bav demands, they were outvoted by employees of the Meat Export works and the New Zealand Bacon Company. “As far as the bacon factory employees are concerned,” he said, ‘they have no more to do with tlie- matter than the wharf labourers. llie \ under the bacon factory employees award, and not the freezing workers award. We simply learn that our name has been coupled with that of the freezinef industry, but what can we ha\e O do with it? The bacon factory people work independently, under an award that applies all the year, and not to seasonal work. As far as we ate concerned at present, everything _ is going well We are working at high pressure, and there is no indication of any dissatisfaction whatever.’

The general manager of the Wellington Meat Export Company, Limited has been informed by the members of the Ngahauranga Union that the paragraph'appearing in yesterday’s DOMrNion stating that members of their union outvoted the Gear Company Union on the question of returning to work is incorrect. Members of the. Ngahauranga Union, however, held a meeting yesterday and passed a resolution supporting the Hawke’s Bay unions “iu their present fight.”