THE SLAUGHTERMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8353, 13 February 1913, Page 9

THE SLAUGHTERMEN

POSITION AT PETONE. • In contrast with. Tuesday evening, there were very few men waiting about the exits from the Gear Company when “knock-off” time sounded at 5 o’clock last night (writes our Petone correspondent). Of the number seen at the street corners, slaughtermen are conspicuous by their absence. It is mostly “gutties” who are waiting a call to resume work as the killing tally improves. Soon after 5 o’clock workers on the “board” left the works singly and in pairs, and there was not the slightest attempt at molestation. Those of the slaughtermen who are residing in Wellington walked to the railway station in two separate batches without hindrance. The killing board was augmented by several more hands yesterday, and the total number of slaughtermen engaged increased to forty-four. An improvement was made of the previous day’s tally, upwards of 1100 sheep being slaughtered. The work is neatly accomplished, and the carcases look as if they had been handled by men who are well acquainted with slaughtering. In reply to a “Times” representative, the manager of the slaughterhouse said he was highly satisfied with the work done. The tally was more than up to expectations, and would gradually improve. One department after another is getting busier, and the number of employees increasing, but it will be some time before the works are going at full capacity. Some of the slaughtermen who have had trouble in engaging lodgings in Petone are gradually being provided for in private houses. Good humoured banter takes place as the men employed at the railway shops and woollen mills pass the “out of works,” but it would never occur to a stranger that a serious strike was in progress. HAWSE’S BAY WORKS MANNED. Press Association. HASTINGS, February 12. Considering the number of butchers now manning the boards at the local i freezing works and bearing in mind

tli© highly satisfactory manner in which they are doing the work the strike may he said to have collapsed as far ns Hawke’s Bay is concerned. The manager of one of the local companies stated yesterday that the new butchers were dressing sheep in a fa: better manner than the ex-slaughter-men. The new hands, without delaying work, give learners a reasonable opportunity to grasp the method oi dressing. The former hands were always out for quantity, not quality. Four hundred and sixty-five sheep wen killed at Paid Paki yesterday, the highest tally being sixty, and the lowest thirty-eight. EVELINE WORKS RESTART. ' OAMARU, February 12. When killing started at the Eveline works seven or eight men more would have been on the boards had longei notice of the companies’ intention to restart been given. The officials express satisfaction with the work, and state that, while not so rapid, it compares favourably with, and in some instances is better than, that performed by first day’s killing experts. CANTERBURY MEAT WORKS RESUME. CHRISTCHURCH, February 12. The meat works are resuming to-daj with tree labourers. The number o. slaughterers available is not revealed, but it is "understood two experts arc engaged in each factory to teach the learners, who will be paid Is 3d pei hour and 27s 6d per hundred. There is some difference between the striker, and the Assistants’ Union, the latter advising its members that they are at liberty to slaughter as free labourers. It •is alleged the assistants resented the failure of the Slaughterers’ Union tc stand by them some years ago, and nursed their grievance. SMITHFIELD AND PAREORA WORKING. TIMARU, February 12. The Smithfield and Pareora freezing works started quietly to-day with a few killers. It is expected that now that work, has begun applications will be made more freely.