WITH FREE LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1913, Page 3

WITH FREE LABOUR

MANNING THE BOARDS. ALLEGED MOLESTATION. (UT TKLEGRAI^H— I'BESs' ASSOCIATION.) GISEORNE, 9th February. The Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat Company concluded their first week's operations under free labour conditions at midday yesterday, and the result is regarded as highly satisfactory. There were 31 men on the slaughter board yesterday morning, and their work is spoken of in the highest terms. The substantial nature of the wages offering has attracted numerous enquiries for work from many parts of the district. The only incident worth mentioning that appears to havo occurred is a case of alleged molestation. Two of the new butchers at the Kaiti works complain of having been intercepted by some persons who used offensive terms to them. It is understood that measures will be taken to prevent the introduction of any such objectionable tactics. Some intetiial diesension is reported to have occurred amongst the slaughtermen themselves, and the payment of a salaried official connected with the organisation is stated to be the bone of contention. A Federation representative is reported to have waited upon a director of the Tokomaru works with an offer of hi 6 services to settle the butchers' dispute, but he was courteously informed that no such grievance existed, and the company were quite satisfied with the work of its present slaughter-house hands. BURNSIDE WORKS TO REOPEN. DUNEDIN, 8th February. The Christchurch Meat Company's works at Burneide will reopen for the season on Thursday next. More applications have been made by slaughtermen with some experience than the number required by the company. STATEMENT BY SOUTHLAND COMPANY'S CHAIRMAN. INVERCARGILL, 9th February. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, the chairman of directors (Mr. John M'Queen) said this time the companies were determined to make a stand, and had decided to make an attempt to fill the factories with free labour. So far as they had gone, they had met with encouragement, leading to the conclusion that they would obtain sufficient laboui. He regretted that a number of married men who had been with the Southland Frozen Meat Company for years, and lived in the neighbourhood, would find that their occupation was gone unless they moved very quickly in applying for places. He would be sorry to see married men made victims by a lot of young fellows who could put their swags on their backs and go on to Australia or through the country following other occupations. An attempt had been made to make the last award run a term of five years, but the President of the Court would not extend it beyond three years, and the leaders of the men gave the companies the assurance that at the end of the term they would do their best to get an extension of two years. I'os sibly they did use their best endeavours, but the slaughtermen did not agree to such a coui'se > The companies had found no difficulty in arranging conditions with the local union, ( and had fixed up an agreement, but it had to be sent to tho federation, who turned it down because it was encroaching on the functions of the executive in Wellington. This" ex ; ecutive was composed of men who •no doubt received good salaries and were required to do something to justify those salaries, and he was inclined to think that those gentlemen would, owing to bad generalship, find their occupation gone. He hoped this would be the result of their action. (Applause.) The local men were to blame in surrendering their personal convictions and handing over their rights to others. This was unmaniy and degrading, but that was their business. Every man had the right to make a fool of himself if he wanted to. As to the slaughtermen and any other employees they might find it necessary to engage in consequence of any dispute, they would continue in the company's service. It would not matter if the slaughtermen came in a body and offered their services. They would fight any attempt likely to be made to form a union to register, and impose conditions whereby the men who came to the company's assistance would be turned out. They would not submit to thai, and he did 110^ think, the Arbitration Court would give its: approval. It would be a case of fixity of tenure with those younf butchers. °