Second Edition. MEAT FAMINE IN SYDNEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 38, 14 February 1914, Page 6

Second Edition. MEAT FAMINE IN SYDNEY.

SERIOUS POSITION OF AFFAIRS. PROTRACTED STRUGGLE PROBABLE. FARMERS MAY BE STRIKEBREAKERS. : . [BY Electric Telegraph—Copyright] " [United Press association.! (Received 9.55 a.ra.) . ' Sydney, February 14.

At the- conference of the Ministei for Labbr and the employers, Mr Est ell, aftel- difficulty, succeeded in gain ing the consent of the employers to renew the offer previously withdrawn, believing that a settlement could bt effected. This, however- • the grand council of the Union rejected, and negotiations are now closed as far as the Department of Labor and industry is concerned, and there is every indication for a protracted struggle. When a meeting of the .Master Butchers’ Association Heard the decision of the Union to turn down the employers’ offer, they unanimously decided not to back down, but to fight it out. The chairman said the onus of the whole trouble now rested with the men, and any move towards settlement must come from them. After to-day no meat will be procurable. All shops will be closed, and any meat left over will be given to charitable institutions. On Monday there will be no meat whatever. The-whole* trade is disorganised, including the cold stores, which supplied carcases intended for export, which are now put on the local market:. Only, the*-pig and calf section of the slaughter-yards was working yesterday. The surplus cattle were turned out:to grass. Following Neiv. Zealand’s lead the farmers are willing to come to Sydney as strike-breakers if necessary. The Workers’ Union and the Labor Federation decided to stand by the men. The secretary of the latter suggests that the Government should fcrder the sale of stock in the public interests, distributing same. The price of canned sheep tongues has already advanced. The stocks of dairy produce are very light, and any extra demand will send prices up rapidly.