KILLING STARTS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1932, Page 5

KILLING STARTS

AT MEAT WORKS UNION LABOUR OFFERING. (Per Press Association — Copyright ,) WELJLINGTGN, November 30. ->■ Killing, commenced to-day at both the Gear Meat Company’s works, and at Ngahauranga, and is progressing satisfactorily. At Ngalmurapga over 100 'applications for work on the board, and 42 meii were bn gaged. Ihe chain gang system was instituted. At first only men who previously had used the knife were put on, but later the remainder of absolutely unskilled men were set to work.

The management were, pleased with the result. They admitted that the dressing is not perfect, but is much more so than they had anticipated. Union labour was freely offering for other departments apart from slaughtering.

A number of men applied for work at the Gear Meat Company’s works, where killing .was proceeding satisfactorily. About half of the applicants were Union men. There were sufficient hands to dispose of tlie yarding. POVERTY BAY OPERATIONS. iQISBORNE, November/ 30. Work is proceeding satisfactorily at the Kaiti Freezing Works, the killings averaging over four thousand per day. There are 82 slaughtermen at work there, fifty-nine, being non-unionists. There is no dearth of applicants. DOMINION CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, November 30. It is understood that the Dominion conference yesterday between representatives of the freezing workers and the freezing companies proved abortive. No details are available. NO RESPONSE AT PICTON. BLENHEIM, December 1. When the Picton freezing works opened this morning there was no response to the call for labour. Union officials were warned that if a further call to start were not answered, the company would take-: steps to start the works with free labour. There was a second call at nine o’clock without response, and engagement of free labour is progressing. In the meantime, the permanent staff is killing stock already penned, and it is expected that the first batch of non-union labour will enter the works tc-day. Farmth'S* 1 We *

strongly supporting itlie company’s action.

AT TOKOMAUU BAY. NON-UNION LABOUR, GISBORNE, December 1. The sheep farmers company’s Toko-maru-Bay freezing works, opened this morning with non-union labour the unionists having refused engagement. The company reports more than sufficient labour is available.