IN EVENT OF TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1932, Page 14

IN EVENT OF TROUBLE

SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") PALMERSTON N., This Day. When discussing a Dominion conference remit advocating a reduction in the levies payable to the Meat Producers' Board at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union at Feilding, Mr. G. L. Marshall asked whether it was true that the freezing companies were willing to pay j the demands of the slaughtermen to avoid a strike and pass the costs on to the j producer. The chairman. Mr. L. Hammond, was unable to say what action the companies proposed. Mr. F. Cash wished to know why the producers' boards accumulated such big reserves. The chairman stated that the practice was not being continued, the money now being used in extensive advertising Mr. Marshall asked whether the Meat Board had any idea of releasing some of its accumulated reserves to assist the producers in the event of a slaughtermen's strike. : Mr. Hammond replied that as far as he knew nothing of the kind was contem-' plated, but he knew that the Meat Board was very active in urging the freezing companies to reduce their freezing charges. Beyond urging the freezing companies to cut down costs the Meat Board had no power. He confessed that the freezing companies had a way of passing on costs to the producer, who liad no say in fixing those costs. According to Mr. Marshall, the farmers' view was that the Meat Board was the only organisation able to deal with the position; the board handled the produce and should see that costs were reduced in keeping with present-day values. NEW RATES OF PAY. At this stage of the proceedings the new rates of pay for slaughtermen, as recommended by the freezing company interests, were placed before the meeting It was stated that the rates would operate as from next Monday, which is the commencement of the new season. ' Mr. Marshall moved that the Dominion executive of the union be written to urging the preservation of the producers' interests by insisting upon adequate reductions in slaughtermen's wages - and pledging the support of producers in the event of any trouble. : Mr. J. B. Bradley claimed that the iarmers should have direct representation when the question of slaughtermen's wages was being considered. The chairman agreed, remarking that in the past the freezing companies and the workers were the only parties recognised by the Arbitration Court. The producer was undoubtedly entitled to direct representation. Mr. Marshall urged that the producers should back up the freezing companies in any reductions made. Mr. Howard seconded the motion, and the chairman remarked that freezing charges would have to come down in sympathy with the fall in costs of production. At present freezing charges were out of all proportion to the return received for the produce. It appeared that fat lambs would not realise more- than Bs, and it was impossible for producers to pay the present costs out of this. Mr. J. B. S. Budding agreed that the union should make* this one of its chief fights'. The motion was then carried.