A GOOD START

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1913, Page 8

A GOOD START

KILLING RESUMED "FREE LABOUR" AT NGAHAURA'NGA. The Wellington Meat Export Company reopened this morning at' Ngahauranga with something like 20 killers. It was intended at one time to begin on Tuesday, but as arrangements were well forward a'start was made to-day. ' The managing director of the company (Mr. ,W. G. Foster) told a Post representative that whilst amongst the "free" butchers are men who are not expert slaughtermen, they have done a considerable amount. of killing. • "The work is being wall done." aUded Mr. Foster; ''thoroughly well done, and it is Only a question of 'practice for these fellows, to get' up to the- standard. The type of men Working is first rate— they are a likely looking lot of men. We expect to have ,40 hooks going to-morrow, and I consider that the difficulty is Teally solved now. From ' experience of other works we think' it. is now only a matter of days before the men will bo able to make very satisfactory daily tallies. '."Personally, I am very sorry," continued Mr. Foster, "that so many men who have , for , years past been on our board' should- have risked a- continuation of their services, and, probably- in many cases, have lost their opportunity. But we have got to stand by the men who have come forward." ■ Had. you any, difficulty with Tegard to labourers? • 1 "None at all," replied Mr. Foster. "We had no trouble in getting all the labour. we wanted.- Speaking ,on behalf of'my company, Icah say .that we feel no uneasiness in respect to this matter, as we i have had' assurances from the men that their sympathies aTe with the companies. . • , 'Do you consider the' prospects favourable? ■ . ■■- "Yes,. I- think- now that we shall go on increasing our board, and so be able to get into. the good old swing before very long,"- replied Mr.' Foster. "I would also -like to say this," he added. "The company, considers that it has been well backed up by- the small farmers.. There has been no complaint or pressure exercised on my company, notwithstanding that the farmer must .have realised^he risk he was incurring of missing" a good condition of market and high prices, with probable considerable loss to himself." PLENTY OF HANDS OFFERING. Asked as to the other/ sheds- now t at work, ' Mr. Foster stated , that he has received . excellent reports from , these places. "From all boards," he said, "I have been, forwarded advice that killers are. rolling up as fast as, they can be absorbed; and there is no doubt now that the difficulty is solved." . , In reply to a question as to whether the "free" butchers were receiving the rate per hundred offered , by the companies, Mr. 1 'Foster stated (while the figures paid are not yet available for publication) that the.Bame principle had been adopted as was obtaining on, the East Qoast— a minimum wage per day. It is understood, that the local remuneration exceeds that paid at Hastings and Gisborne. The Gear' Company has made arrangements to open 1 the* doors to-morrow morning. As was the case, with the Meat Export Company, the' applications were numerous enough to allow of a good selection being made. . The most sought for are those applicants who have had experience,- and are considered likely to develop into expert slaughterers. Plenty of. stock has arrived and is arriving ,at both sheds. One of eight trucks of sheep came down to Petbne this afternoon. , It is stated "that the Petone works will begin to-morrow, with . something like thirty butchers. WHAT. IS A, " WORKER.".? . The' task of ' supplying a satisfactory definition of the word "wdrker" (in respect' to, the re-registration of- three of tjie slaughtermen's unions) ' has been handed to the Crown law officers. • , NO UNIONISTS APPLYING. . ■ From the < Slaughtermen Federation point of view, 1 the most satisfactory feature of the dispute so- far is the united front presented " by . the slaughtermen. While the number of hands manning the varibus boards that have ' recommenced killing totals a hundred .and more, only one unionist- is Included in, the number. It was stated a day or, two ago that.several "slaughtermen at Petone had expressed- their satisfaction at the opportunity to be given- to them by -the reopening of the ' local . sheds, but . to-day that is "indignantly, repudiated. -No unionist, it is -declared, will take a hook until the- federation's terms are granted. > Work at , wanganui. (BT -, TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, This Day. .The Wanganui • Freezing Works resumed this morning with twenty-five men on tile board. 1 Their work was as satisfactory ; .as was anticipated, j and is proceeding smoothly. \ < "THERE MIGHT BE SHORTLY." t»T TELEGRAPH— -PRESS ASSOCIATION.) HASTINGS, This Day. ' Mr. ' Reardon, secretary of the Slaughtermen's- Federation, has returned 'to Wellington. - He ■ was met at\ Hastings' by a number 'of ex«laughterme». .The secretary of ' the local ' unjoh '■ stated there was _ nothing new to" -report, but there might be shortly.' " " ■ i • .