NOT SETTLED YET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12619, 2 December 1926, Page 7

NOT SETTLED YET

FREEZING DISPUTE CONFERENCE SITS ALL DAY DISCUSSIONS WILL BE RESUMED TO-DAY There is so far no alteration in the dispute between the freezing workers and the companies. Representatives of both sides met at Wellington yesterday, and the conference lasted all day and well into the night, the participants finally adjourning till to-day when the matters affecting the parties will be again discussed. It is understood that at one stage of the proceedings last evening it was anticipated that a settlement upon the chief points at issue might be reached, but shortly after this the conference adjourned till to-day, and the statement that there was nothing tangible tp report was made. The award which is at present in force was formulated in 1921 by the Arbitration Court, and since that time increases have been granted, the last of these being in 1924, when the minimum rate was raised to 2s per hour. In September, 1925, the court increased the basic rate of wages froni Is 9d to Is lOd per hour, the pronouncement stating that the freezing workers had already participated in this rise. The unions wished for greater wages, however, and asked tne co-

operation of the companies in approaching the court for a revision of the wages schedule. This the companies refused to do, and the subsequent action of the unions on the one hand and the stoic resistance of the companies on the other have led to the present position. The companies consider that the present position of the industry, and in faot the country, is such that no further increases in wages will be possible, and it is suggested that difficulty will be experienced in maintaining the present rate. On the other hand the workers hold that their fight for bigger wages is perfectly justified, and it is pointed ont on their behalf that it would have been reasonable to expect the representatives of the companies to have met them in the first place and discussed the position fully. They are of opinion that they should have at least t some word in the determination of their rates of pay, and it was with definitely formulated plans that they teaohed the conference yesterday.

BECOMING COMPETENT

VOLUNTEERS DOING WELL REPORT FROM WAINGAWA. Volunteers working at the Waingawa Freezing Works have, according to the management, shown a wonderful improvement during the week, which they have been working, and a fair number of them are already doing round about the tally of eight head per hour, which entitles them to be classed as competent slaughtermen. The number of sheep and lambs kill.l ed to-day was 1030. and tho work in every department is proceeding satis- • factorily. The management state that- even without an addition to the numbers working, or further improvement, there will be no difficulty in handling all the fat stock likely to be offering •this side of the holidays.