SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 33, 7 February 1913, Page 5

SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE

MANNING THE BOARDS WITH • FREE LABOUR. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, February G. Whatever may be going on behind the scenes outwardly all is quiet at the two local freezing works, and there are no exciting happenings to record. Following the lead of Belfast a guard is now stationed at the main entrance to the Islington works, and the reporter who visited the place was told that there was no admittance to anybody. The only people who were allowed within the precincts are the employees actually engaged in the place. Work has been found for a fair percentage of men other than slaughtermen, but it will not last more than another week at the outside, and then every hand will have to be paid off. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr H. B. Sorensen) informed a reporter to-day that no slaughtering for boiling down was being done at the abattoirs, nor was there any intention of taking on any such work. Occasionally to oblige butchers small lines of stock were slaughtered at the abattoirs for boiling down, but work at the abattoirs consisted principally of slaughtering for local consumption.

HASTINGS KEEPS GOING. Hastings, February C, Mr M. J. Reardon, secretary of the Slaughtermen’s Federation, arrived in Hastings last evening, and subsequently attended a meeting of the Slaughtermen’s Union. Interviewed to-day, Mr Reardon said that there was no information for the press arising out of the meeting. Asked if there had been any change in the men’s attitude, Mr Reardon replied in the negative. He said that the tallies recorded by the men who went oh the boards yesterday did not affect their position. At Tomoana 28 men killed 500 sheep, and at Pakipaki six men managed to put through 143, whilst at the North British works there were ten butchers, including 8 Maoris. So far as he could learn, only one Unionist had caved in, and returned to work. That was at Tomoana. The tallies recorded yesterday did not weaken the position of the strikers, and they were, quite satisfied.

THE WATERSIDE WORKERS. Gisborne, February G. The possible attitude of the Waterside workers in regard to the employment of free labour on the slaughtering boards at the freezing works has been much discussed of late, and light is thrown on the matter by the following resolution which was carried unanimously at a large meeting of Gisborne waterside workers to-night: “That this meeting accords the Slaughtermen’s Union their heartiest sup-' port, and in the future will give all the support possible without inf ring-j ing the Gisborne waterside workers’ I agreement.” This is intended to mean that the waterside workers may pos-j sibly refuse to handle “free labour” j meat. The companies, however, anticipated such a contingency when pre-j paring their plans for the introduction' of free labour to the boards, and the 1 I meeting of sheep-farmers held some) weeks ago pledged themselves to stand j by the companies right through, even (it was understood) in the matter of shipping the meat, should the watersiders determine not to handle the meat. There is every indication that the pledged country labour will be employed for the work. The intention of the farmers and the companies is to resolutely meet one difficulty after another. THE PALMERSTON WORKS. Palmerston North, February G. The Longburn Freezing Works will start killing again on Monday at 8 o’clock. The company have been advertising for slaughtermen and have been successful. Palmerston N., February 7. The Longburn freezing works are re-starting on Monday with a full board of free labourers,