SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 5 February 1913, Page 8

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

PLENTY OF EPEE LABOUR. (Per Press Association.) Hastings, February 4. The Toraona works will re-open tomorrow. The firm had no difficulty in obtaining free labour, and slaughtering will be resumed with a full board. Those men who have come to the assistance will be allowed to retain their hooks as long as they desire, and every reasonable opportunity will be allowed them to become expert slaughtermen. In the event of vacancies occurring on the boards the strikers will be allowed to go back to work should they feel inclined to do so. THE POSITION IN CANTERBURY. Christchurch, February 4. There are no developments to record in connection with the trouble with the slaughtermen in Canterbury. Each side is awaiting for the other to capitulate, and as far as outward appearances go capitulation is the idea farthest from intention of either. THE REAL TESTING GROUND. Wellington, February 4. The secretary of the Slaughtermen’s Federation states that the three unions which are involved in the present dispute (Wellington, Poverty Bay, and Canterbury) have made application for re-registration under the Arbitration Act. The other three unions (Auckland, Otago, and Southland) will make similar applications shortly, and when all unions are registered again the Federation will follow suit. Iffie previous registrations, it may be noted, of unions and the Federations were cancelled on January 16th. WANGANUI COMPLACENT. Wanganui, February 4. With the exception of the fact that the slaughtermen have ceased killing abattoir meat, there is nothing to record here. The men agreed some days ago to slaughter for local requirements, but the terms now advanced are not acceptable to the directors of the company. GISBORNE WORKS RESUME. Gisborne, February 4. The Tokomaru Bay freezing works resumed work at 9 o’clock this morning with free labour on the boards, including three natives. By noon the natives had been increased to eleven. The management is quite satisfied, and expects to have a full board in the course of a day or two. There has been no trouble with the strikers. The new men are killing at the rate of from seven to ten sheep per hour, which is considered satisfactory. At the Kaiti works no fewer than 21 men were working on the boards this afternoon, including learners, and more are expected to-morrow. It is stated that although a fair number of the sheep slaughtered on Monday were rejected for freezing, the number to-day was very small, and that the slaughtering was qtuite to the standard of recent days with the old slaughtermen. The company expects to be turning out its usual output in about a fortnight. WORK RESUMED AT NAPIER. Napier, February 4. As had been arranged slaughtering at the North British Freezing Company’s works was resumed to-day by the aid of free labour. There was practically no demonstration on the part of the displaced strikers, who took the matter very quietly, and, indeed, it is said that many of the single men are preparing to leave the district to seek pastures new. No admittance to the works could be gain ed, but a reporter was informed by the managing director to-night that more applications for work had been received than the company could grant, and that no difficulty was anticipated in being able to continue operations on a satisfactory basis. A full staff was not employed to-day, on account of the fact that the overseer had to instruct a number of men, but what work was done was done very well although, perhaps, not so quickly as by older and more experienced butchers.