SLAUGHTERMEN’S DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 24 February 1913, Page 3

SLAUGHTERMEN’S DISPUTE

CANTERBURY COMPANIES FAX PIECEWORK RATES, Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, February 23. From every point of view of the Canterbury freezing companies matters are satisfactory, despite the fact that the slaughtermen’s strike has not been declared off. This week it is expected both at Islington and at Smitbfield the output will reach four figures per day. Now that the pressure of harvest work is over, and that grass seeding is practically finished, applications from a suitable type of workers are coming in much more freely than was the case when slaughtering operations started ten days ago. Indeed, the amount of labour offering is such that the companies are not under the necessity for engaging any but those who appear likelv to prove efficient workers after having received some instruction. The quality of the work being done by the men at present manning the boards at the companies’ works is giving satisfaction, and compares favourably with the standard reached by experts in recent years. In view of the number of men at present on the boards at Islington, and of the rate at which applications are coming in, it will be only a matter of a few days before the boards will be quite full. Learners employed by the companies, it is understood, are making such excellent progress that already a largo proportion of them are being paid piecework rate, as they have proved Themselves capable of earning more than the guaranteed maximum of 10s per day. There are thirty-five free slaughtermen on the board at Belfast. It is understood a meeting of the union will bo held to-night to discuss the question of accepting the 27s fid offered by the companies. The unionists state they are willing to accept the rate provided the free workers are dismissed. The companies decline to adopt this course.