"We Want Meat!"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1914, Page 5

"We Want Meat!"

SYDNEY'S SAD PLIGHT. SIGNS OF RECONCILIATION. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright; [Unksd Press Association.] Sydney, February 19. ' Renewed activity was manifested at the Glebe abattoirs to-day, 70 or 80 master butchers slaughtering sheep and cattle. There was no attempt at interference. A deputation from the operatives passed through the pens to see that no non-union hands were employed. The distributing depots were opened, but yesterday's scrambling methods were not in evidence. At a meeting of the masters to-day, there was some dissension as to the proposed terms of settlement. It was thought that the whole meat industry's terms and conditions of wages should be submitted to arbitration, and also the objection of both sides regarding hours; but Mr Estell pointed out that it was intended as early as possible to amend the Arbitration Act to bring in an eight-hours' day wherever practicable. Mr Estell suggested an award, to be confirmed by the Court, on the basis of the new arrangement, which is anticipated to be for 49i hours and an all-round incrase of ss. A tribunal is to be constituted immediately. Both sides accept the terms the union has given, with power to amend the claim by seeking a variation of the wages and hours which were the subject of the original claim. Mr Estell is confident that the men will accept the proposition at tonight's' meeting, and the masters have also to communicate a final decision. There seems every possibility of the men resuming work to-morrow. A meeting of butchers decided to accept the terms as a fair basis of settlement. The Minister has been informed that the effect of the terms were: Resumption of work forthwith, on conditinos that the employees shall have a flat rate increase of 5s above award rates, and hours not exceeding 49i per week. MELBOURNE MASTERS. (Received 11.55 a.m.) Melbourne. FaWnary -.*y. At a meeting of the Meat Employees' Union, the employers' offer in regard to hours and wages was adjourned to Tuesday, pending further negotiations. A meeting of master butchers decided that they could not go beyouct their offer of 5s increase, but agreed to meet the employees and place their decision before them. •■ ',■ ' ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYERS. (Received 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, February 20. Hopes ' that -a binding compromise would be reached and the strike practically settled vanished on the men's acceptance of the Minister's proposal for a flat rate increase of 5s 4d above the award rates, with hours not exceeding 49J as the basis of immediate resumption, which was submitted to a meeting of employers. Mr Estell understanding that the employers were prepared to favorably consider the terms, the meeting, which closed at midnight, resulted in the masters rejecting the terms. In the letter to the Under-Secreary for Labor covering the decision, the employers state that from first to last the committee appointed to deal with the matter bave taken up a position that it could not make any offer of a settlement to the employees, and that the matter must be dealt with constituion. ally in accordance with the Arbitration Act, adding that the commitee suggested that if the men made an offer it would be considered, but as they refused to make such an offer the committee would take a stand and the dispute must be dealt with under the laws of the State. This means that the employers insist on the men resuming under the terms oi the old award, and that the trouble should then be submitted to the Arbiration Court.

Mr Estell, in replying to the employers' letter, claims that they failed to appreciate the constitutional aspect of the matter and overlooked the fact that the award is in exigence. His proposal was to use the Industrial Court to pYoc-ure an immediate interim award on which operations could be resumed. As a matter of fact the employers refused two invitations to meet the employees at a joint conference. Throughout the negotiations the employers had given him the impression that they would have been the first to accept suggesions submitted for an honorable and peaceful settlement. The Grand Council of meat industry employees meet this morning to discuss the changed situation of the outlook. Ominous developments are anticipated. Depots are open to-day similar to yesterday. No chops or steaks are served to buyers, who must be content with joints, the "supply of which is still below the demand. The masters claim that the prices are lowjer than before the strike. Owing to the failure to reach a settlement all cold storage employees will join the strike to-day, thus cutting off this source of supply. The prices of poultry, bacon, eggs, cheese and fish are steadily increasing, fish being in great demand. SYDNEY PRESS BLAMED. ("Per Press Association.! Christchurch, February 19. Mr Holman was asked if he wished to make any comment on the criticisms

by the Sydney Press of his recent utterances at Wellington and he said the only observation that occurred to him was that the naive acceptance by the Sydney Press of reports, as conveying the true purport of his remarks at Wellington, still surprised him. Probably a dozen sentences had been taken from his speech and had been cabled over, and upon the suggestion that the message conveyed these criticisms had been based. The man in the street might be pardoned for assuming that the cabled report faithfully reproduced the speaker's meaning. The Press itself ought to know better. It was impossible, he added, to carry on a controversy at a distance of 1200 miles, and he had nothing to sty except that apparently tlio Sydney newspapers, on this occasion, had spoken without any warrant!