"DECIDEDLY BRIGHT" COMPANIES' VIEW OF THE MEAT STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1913, Page 8

"DECIDEDLY BRIGHT" COMPANIES' VIEW OF THE MEAT STRIKE

LOCAL SHEDS TO OPEN NEXT WEEK. At this stage of the struggle between the freezing companies and the slaughtermen, the former are in euch a position (they affirm) as to justify their taking an optimistic view of things. One by one the sheds in the North Island provinces are manning their boards, and if the "free labourer" is a little inexpert as yet, there is no complaint — the tallies are increasing every day. We are informed that the opening of the works at Petone and Ngahauranga next week is assured. "We will all be able to get a good start." added our in« formant. Enquiries at the ' Gear Company relative to' the • way things -were going, elicited the information that the number of applications coming forward was quite satisfactory, and the calibre of the men themselves very satisfactory. The applicants to date are mostly those who had some experience in the killing and dressing of sheep. It is declared authoritatively that the companies have made up their minds to stand by those killers and labourers who noW come forward, through thick and thin,' inside the law, of course, and unless or until the Arbitration Act "gives the show away." It has been explained to our representative that there are numerous signs of discontent among those hands who "are now out of work because the killers stick out for an exorbitant rate." . Longburn is starting work on Monday next with a full board. Wanganui is extremely hopeful of making a start almost immediately, and the prospects for the re-opening of this shed are, it is said, very promising, Word 'has come down by wire to Wellington that the Gisborne men are doing splendid work, and that other sheds on the East Coast are as happily placed. The local freezers are to hold a meeting on Monday next. -• A movement has been made on the companies' side in the direction of obtaining the -Crown Law Office's definition of "workers"— a reference in connection with the recent re-registration of three unions.- The Labour Department is looking into the question, and it is possible that the Crown Law officers may be' asked to propound a definition different to the usual acceptance of the term. But so far the matter rests with the Department, AT PETONE. The Post representative at Petone, speaking to a number of slaughtermen to-day, was informed definitely by these men that it was their intention to rexommehce work next week. There are |also two or three Maoris anxious to make a start at the board, v There is an opinion abroad that, so far as Petone is concerned, it is, only a matter of a numbeV of the old bands giving a lead for them to have a large following. It is said that quite half the men on strike weresatisfied with the old conditions, and are more than content with the 'extra 2s 6d per hundred offered by the companies.