THE SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8754, 2 March 1907, Page 2

THE SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE.

Per Press Association. ’ |g|| Gisborne, March 1, A meeting of the Freezing Works Union was convened for to-night to discuss the situation, but as the meeting ■had not been called in strict compliance with the rules it was decided to adjourn. The slaughtermen, however, remained and discussed the forms, which they could not see their way to accept. This leaves the position much as it was, excepting that the ice has been broken in the matter of negotiations. Invercargill, March 1. The principal development in the strike to-day is that the works at Mataurn and Ocean Beach re-started in the afternoon, the understanding being that they kill off waiting stock. It would cost owners Cd railage each way and 3d a week keep if the stock were sent back to the farmers, and rather than that they have agreed to pay an extra Jd a head or thereabouts to., make up the 23s a hundred demanded by the men to have the stock slaughtered. The Southland Frozen Meat Company has made similar arrangements, having practically handed over control of tho Mataura works to a dealer who had 2)000 sheep at tho works. The sheep owner must find tho men, but it is understood that somo men havo gcim back. Tho four butchers who refused to strike with the others turn out to bo beef hands. They refused to kill mutton, and have since thrown in their lot with tho strikers. Tho strike could not havo happened at a more opportune time for Southland, according to somo authorities,

as some drafts recently sent to the works had boon on the light side. Recent rains have] greatly improved tho pasture and sheep for freezing will increaso greatly in value during the cessation of killing operations. Gore, March 1. There is practically nothing new to re-. cord in regard to the strike at Mataura. The men were engaged to-day killing a line of 2230 sheep for a private exporter, who made arrangements with the Company for the use of the works, the . rate paid being 25s per 100. A small lino of 400 is to bo similarly dealt with for another exporter. Tho Company is now advertising for butchers, and it is expected that in a day or two the strikers will bo notified that their services will no longer bo required. The majority of themen were personally opposed to striking but all have gone out, the pre--1 vious statement that four of the local | butchers intended remaining loyal to . tho Company not being correct. Tho ' Hon. Millar’s allegation that Australians are at the bottom of tho trouble is certainly true as far as the ! Mataura works are concerned, the primo * movers there being several Sydnoy-siders * who have been particularly keen on the j question of striking, and who made no ) secret of their connection with tho strike ) in Australia and the success that attended them. There is a feeling abroad that tbe strike is in the fizzlin'! out stages. 2 Dunedin, March 2. 1 The position r at Burnside is nn--3 changed and tho men ars still out. D Gisboenb, March 2. 3 The men at Nelson Bros’., refusing 2 to do their work at a fair rate, killd iug operations have been stopped J altogether. Butchers at both local 1 works therefore now all out. At a 7 meeting of the men last night it was decided that the employers’ offer to pay retrospectively whatever the - Arbitration Court award could not 2 bo accepted, as to go back to work , for 20s would not bo consistent with j the stand made by southern butchers , who had not returned except for an increase to 235. The employers are meeting this morning to further consider the matter.