THE SLAUGHTERMEN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8351, 11 February 1913, Page 8

THE SLAUGHTERMEN.

WORK RESUMING AT NGAHAURANGA SHEDS FREE LABOUR OFFERING. The Goar Company has decided to commence killing at 8 o'clock this morning. All yesterday morning the manager of the siauguter-house was busy interyiewmg applicants tor “hooks,” many of whom had not had previous experience at slaughtering. The number of applications far exceeded the places to he filled, but after tire most likely men had been picked out, a board of thirty slaughtermen was obtained. A consignment of sheep came to hand at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and everything is in readiness for a start to be made. It is not ascertained if any of the old hands hare applied for “hooks,” and as no person will be allowed in the works to-day except employees, it will be impossible to view the slaughtering. Employees of other departments will not be allowed in or about the slaughtering board. Mr W. G. Foster, managing director of the Wellington Meat Export Company, which re-commenced work at Ngahauranga yesterday with about twenty killers, states that the work is being thoroughly well done. It was only a question of practice for these men to got up to the standard. They were a first-rate type of men. The company expected to have forty “hooks” going to-day, and he considered that the difficulty was really solved now. Personally, he was very sorry that so many men who had for years past been on the company’s board should have risked a continuation of their service, and, probably, in many cases had lost their ’ opportunity. The company, however, had to stand by tho men who had come forward. He thought now they would go on increasing their board, and so be able to get into the old swing before very long. “I would also like to say this,” Mr Foster remarked, “the company considers that it has been well backed up by the small farmers. There has been no complaint or pressure exercised on my company, notwithstanding that the farmer must have realised the risk he was incurring of missing a good condition of market and high prices, with probable considerable loss to himself.” MEETING AT PETONE. Our Petone correspondent communicated the following last night: “A largely attended meeting of the Freezers’ Union, which constitutes tho freezers and general labourers, was held at Petone to-night. A vote was taken in respect to resuming work. It is understood from a reliable authority that the voting on the question of going back to work was 92 for and 60 against.” ■ The Secretary of the Slaughtermen’s Federation (Mr M. J. Reardon) has returned from his visit to the East Coast. He was present at the meeting last night. Asked by a “Times” reporter as to the decision of the meeting, Mr Reardon said he was not in a position to make any statement of what transpired. POSITION IN HAWKE’S BAY. APPRECIATION OF STAND TAKEN BY UNION. Press Association. HASTINGS, February 10. Tho butchers manning the board at Tomoana put through 1000 sheep on Friday and 450 for the half-day on Saturday. Thirteen butchers are slaughtering at Pakipaki and applications for hooks continue to come in freely. The firms speak in nigh terms of the

work of the now butchers. Every day sees a marked improvement. In appreciation of the stand taken up by the Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works Industrial Union of AVorkers in connection with the strike, Nelson Bros., Limited, Tomoana, Thomas Borthwiok and Sons, Ltd., Pakipaki, and the North British Freezing Com pany, Napier, have decided to adopt the rates of pay provided for in the award now operating at Gisborne. This decision, which was conveyed to the secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Union by Mr AA r . Nelson, managing director of Nelson Bros., amounts to an increase in wages of 10 per cent, to all members of the union, and will affect about two hundred employees at Tomoana and 150 between the Pakipaki works and the works at the Port. The new rate of pay will come into force j\s from Monday next, but the other provisions of the present award will be adhered to till tho agreement expires in 1914. GISBORNE BOARDS GROWING. GISBORNE, February 10. At the Kaiti freezing works to-day there was a board of forty-one slaughtermen, and five more will commence work to-morrow. The Taruheru works started to-day with fourteen men. The Freezers’ Union to-night deemed to adhere to its former decision not to strike. Most of the unmarried slaughtermen are leaving or have left the district. A CORRECTION. TIMARU, February 10. The secretary .of the Waterside Workers’ Union requests the correction of a press message sent on Friday. He did not say anything about not anticipating instructions from tho federation about handling free labour meat. When the question arises the union will discuss it.