THE KILLERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1913, Page 3

THE KILLERS

CANTERBURY FREEZING < COMPANIES - .. '-:,;'-a' : decisi6n.\" ." ' ; . (B? .'JBt^OnArM—l'BEflS .ASSOCIAtIOJj") , "CHRIS'rCHURCH, 3rd February. The . twp , Canterbury^ freezing , companies—rthe Canterbury Frozen , Meat .and Dairy" Produce Company 'and the, Christchurch ..Meat, Corapanyf-.haye i decided to call- for.^. applications fr,on^ expert slaughtermen and from --learners" to man the' killing boards-at their works. • - The object -is, of .course, to end the present ' condition /of- affairs brought aboijt by .the Slaughtermen's .Union declining .to .accept any' lesser wage' than SOs.psr hundred. The strike has now been in. existence' for .nearly a week^ and there are not wanting indications that some of the steadier men in the ranks of" the slaughtermen are anything but, Satisfied with the altitude taken up by ihtt union, and" will be' probably will-, ing to resume work on' the substan-tially-increased rate offered by the "companies. The full text of notices issued by the companies is as follows : ---"This company- is , willing to receive applications from expert f slaughtermen and learners' "to commence, work on. a date to be. hereafter specified. Priority, of employment will be given in order- of application. Rate to' be 275 ,6 d per '100, Learners ,- will be .granted a .minimum wage .of 15d ' per hour until capable of earning -more than -.that^by piece-work. Full terms and conditions of employment can be seen at the- works', or at this office (i.e., .the .office of either comf>a#); '- „ ' ■ ■• ,' It .is anticipated that the publication of this' notice will' have the effect of bringing matters - to. a head, and will possibly end' the present deadlock. The terihs and conditions , of employment "will be'CKbtie decided upon at the latest-held conference*. of representatives of the freezing companies. • . ■ Sir George .Clifford, when seen by a reporter in respect -to the notices issued by the two . Canterbury companies, stated that the .works of both, companies would open with free labour. , . He, however," "desired the' fact "emphasised/ that, as far as the Canterbury companies were concerned, '• there was no ■ antagonism to -the ("employment of ' union labour, and every opportunity would be "offered to the.meni'who went on to the slaughtering board to form a union registered .under the Conciliation . and Arbitration - Act. -The. . companies were not fighting unionism, but only, this particular phase' of. the trouble. "THIRTY SHILLINGS A HUNDRED" • - FIRM STAND. • * • ' CHRISTCHURCH, 3rd February. , The ■ Canterbury Slaughtermen's Unidn met " to-night,, but the meeting, "was not open to reporters. l At the conclusion the secretary communicated the following report:—"The meeting was very largely .attended, *ahd~ representatives were presertt .from the freezing works at Fairfiefd,' Smithfield, and Pareora. It" w,as resolved "That , the union make a firm stand f6r 30s per hundred!' " It was further reported that the majority of. the mdn have got employment at harvesting, . navvyirig; and so oir, , and ,\t is their' present intention to remain' at that class of work. ' " , ' I ' The -reporter' asked if any resolution was arrived at- with reference to the employment'" by the- companies, df free j labour. • ' • ' "• ' , -The secretary • replied that- there was nothing, td report under that head. He wtaß'w t aB also pasjeed "if any arrange-ments-had-been made for picketing, and the secretary replied that the union did not work in that way. ■ „ , SLAUGHTERMEN MEET , SUGGESTED „ SYMPATHY STRIKE. ' ' GISBORNE, 3rd February. A, full .meeting of slaughtermen tonight discussed' v th'e" dispute, in relation to the new ,aepeCt of free' labour at the Kaiti/worke, -and decided- to- send a, deputation to wait on .the Freezers' Union, probably, with the idea of .asking the freezers' to come 'out in^ sympathy. I CONFERENCE AT WAITARA - ' r IMPROVES ABORTIVE. WAITArZ 3rd; February .A conference was held to-day t between •tHe management . of ' the Borthwick Works ,'here and . the butcheri. _ The conferehcfe" proved i abortive, ■ the .latter turning down' r the 'offer made - the'in 'by the, r fifm. .They 6tal>e_that they are preparing a. statement for , the ; prefes. ' Meanwhile, ttiey 'add, ' tne old butchers are not going 'back. , '. . v . , :..""' ,wam6anui Works' ,' !/ , . t - - — ' i , i- , . . OFFERS' OF- ASSISTANCE. • " ' WANGANUI, 3rd ' February. The managing 'director of<th«'Wan'gauui'Meat Freezing Company states that the company has ■received* ';a number; of spontaneous offers of ' assidtane'e.' The directors held 'a meeting' this ' morriing, and, unanimously '.decided • that' imme,diate'stops be taken to engage' labour for-tfte 'works, rgiving preference: to old i employees. ' THe company" intends "using ,'its'best endeavours to "reopen the 'works within the next few days, and-the ; managing feels'certam that ho will br 'successful ; in 'doing- -so. ' ' •' .'\ .-. .." AT HASTINGS « ' . : THE' P.OSiTION- UNCHANGED. , ;-' • .HASTINGS, -3rd- February! • • * The-, poeition/in regard to the slaughter.men's'strike, in.socfar ac-it concerns the .loifal ; wofks, ' is. '^unch.anged. ; ".Messrs. ;Bofthwick ■ ajid .Sope, "of Pakipaki, .have not i€c«iyed ; any-; applications, for places on,. th~&-lullin£. board, aijd the works are closed down vi the .meantime. ■Applications for "hooks'* at.'Tomoana, .how,ever,- are ■coming in freely, and it is . anticipated ' that tho works, will ,reopen on Wednesday 'morning with a full 'board. .The rate of pay, will be the same ac 'that, offered .to "the men who went -out on' -strike, viz.,. 275. 6d per 100. Should these, anticipations realie«d, slaughternig wjll be resumed on Wedrfesday,: and the" "necessity 6f dispneing with- th'e "services' of- hande in other department* will' thus be obviated: ' •- Questioned by a • reporter, one of .the striker^ said that' they had" no intention of ' going - back 'on " their demands, and ■would 'fight- to the' bitter ehd. ' Refcrring'Vo' the proposer of 'the companies to man tho. v >boarde with 'freo labour,- the s'peake,r'6aid t}ie freezing -firms' might be satisfied 'with" their work, biit he doubted i whether ■ the 'farmers would put* up with 'it for* very long. , '

. . AT GiSBORjiIE"; ' .FREE' MEN MA^THE BOARDS. (BT. MtJEOBAPH-^,'I'EES3 ASSpCIATIOJ?.) • GISBORNE, 3rd February. . Work has resumed at the Gisborne -Sbeefarmers' Kaj.tr 'Works this.: morning with seven-' ft%e labour slaughtei'6i«; agd- during other* joined the

board,- though tHe exact - number - at' present working is .-not. available. Jn an. official report the managing direc-. tor;Mr/C.-A. De Lautour.says :- "Work was maintained to-day.,*. and as a large' nyniher of. enquiries was made, others are expected "to joiii'-to-morrow. Every effort is being made to keep places the men. who have' been iin .employment, an,d -who have given satisfaction.. A large 'tally is not % being 'attempted. As soon as the' rrten"harde"n up the pace can be increased ;.• but not much in expected for tho first few weeks. • Fifteen shillings per day is .being paid to men who can kill' sheep, but who ai'e unaccustomed to the fast methods of • factory , slaughterhouses, and 12s 6d pe.r day is being, paid for learners. Accommodation will bo provided at the works for the men if required.!' . - At the Taruhern works, an official announcement to the press states, a board of eight' or ten men is ready, and will probably start in a day or 'two. The Tokomaru Bay correspondent of the Gisborne Times states @hat , work is expected to be resumed aT tha works there to-morrow with free labour — probably not lets than seven or eight men) principally atation ' hands. , Only' about' three slaughtermen have .left Tokomaru. Bay, and the remainder (about fourteen) are >expected to hang on for a 'week or .two. Stockowners are not , anticipating any difficulty in holding ' their stock, but buyers are riot, inclined to quote until they see how the new ■ men. shape on .the. -board. The quantity qf stock coming forward will be regulated by the number the < men are able to put through. >