AUCKLAND BUTCHERS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1929, Page 6

AUCKLAND BUTCHERS

SLAUGHTERMEN STRIKE. [By Telegraph, Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 30. A hundred men at Westfield employed by Hejlabys and by the Municipal Abattoirs struck this morning!' innnedi- , ately after an attempt: was made to employ unskilled labour . slaughtering pigs. The Arbitration Court’s new award prescribes unskilled men- may be employed for killing pigs. PROTEST AGAINST WAGE CUTS. AUCKLAND, Oct. 30. . A meeting of the Butchers’ Union Executive was held to-night, hut. there .was no new development regarding the strike, at the Municipal Abattoirs and R. and IV. Hellahy’s was reported. “The men are smarting under the injustice,” said Mr W. Sill, Secretary of the Union, when discussing the attitude of the Union. The rates of pay for hilling pigs were the chief bone bf contention, hut the slaughtering of mutton also entered (Into the question. Under the new, award, sjauglytermen employed by tile Freezing Companies received Is od and is lid. -' - :. 1 Air Sill said that in . addition to classifying the killing-of pigs, as unskilled labour, the.Cburt had; also Ye-’ duced the rate for long shank sheep by 3si 9d a hundred; ■. > . Hy;

The; Mayor (Mr .Bai-jclon).- ihla'-state-ment, said: “I am’sorry Flip: then have acted in this way. 1 would have much preferred that they had met the committee before going on strike. The Council must stand by the award that has been given, just:- US it would have done if it had been against it. Although some inconvenience may result -from the extreme measures taken by . the men, I do not think it will be serious. As matters stand at present, I regret that I do not feel justice cl in .discussing the position with the representatives of the men, hut if the men are prepared to go back to their work, and to accept the award aS in my opinion they should do, I am; prepared with the Chairman of the Committee, to consider any points, in the Court’s- finding on which the "men [may desire to represent their views.”

Thirty master butchers were engaged at the Municipal Abattoirs this afternoon killing their own meat. They are calling for assistance to-morrow. In this way it is hoped there will be no-shortage in the city’s meat- supply.