THE SLAUGHTERMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8340, 29 January 1913, Page 8

THE SLAUGHTERMEN

ANOTHER CONFERENCE OF COMPANIES* CONVENED. There are likely to be Bomo dovelop: menta of importance very soon in con aectL with the slaughtering.dispute Eoth sides now appear to be making a move, but whether it is a together or a move still further apart t , a a vet to be demonstrated. On" Friday another conference of representatives of the P companies is to be held in B ■ It has been convened by £>ir Ccorgo Clifford, and will be practically a continuation of the conference which sat here on the 17th inst. and. issued the ultimatum to the men whmff expired last Friday. This week s co f“ e ' x P < ' o will be held on the same daythattho men’s notice to cease work in nearly ail the sheds’ will expire. The purpose for which the conference has been convened is not publicly stated, but it is surmisedrthatthe delegates are being called together to review the position in the light or recent developments, ihe action of the men in ignoring the offer of the previous conference will have to ho discussed, while the breakaway of the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Company may lead other companies to reconsider their attitude. One suggestion is that the companies may decide, to give in to tho men’s demand for increased wages and to make agreements similar to that concluded at Waingawa last Saturday. On the other hand, it is considered that the companies will stand firm and let the works bo closed for the rest of the season, in the hope of being able to make a fresh start next year. In the meantime the Slaughtermen s Federation is making a definite move. Tho secretary, Mr M. J. Reardon, told a “ Times ” representative that he had opened up negotiations with several of the smaller companies with a view to securing agreements similar to .the new Waingawa one. He was negotiating at present with those companies which were regarded as being most likely to study the interests of the farming community. If agreements could be secured as good as that made at Waingawa the federation would come to terms. There was little doubt that tho men elsewhere would be willing to work under the conditions there agreed upon.