SLAUGHTERMEN ON STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 14 February 1907, Page 2

SLAUGHTERMEN ON STRIKE

MEN DEMAND JiNCKIOYSEII WAGES. OFFEIi, BY COMPANY KEFI'SED MINISTER OP LABOK TO TAKE j ACTION. j LAW MUST BE OBSERVED, l'er Press Association. Wellinuto.v, February l.' S. lke lke slaughtermen employed by tlie treat' Meal Company, to the number of about ]2<), who struek on Tuesday demanding an incriM.se of 25 per cent in the killing rate., this alien,ooii ret,iseJ an oiler lrom the meat coinpauies of per hundred, adkeriug to their demand for i!ss. L nier the existing ai'r.uigeii.ent tlie men are p;ii<l ]>, r huudred, The company at tlie outset oftcrcd 21s, Hlu | also oil jred |l,at il (he award of the Arbitration Court at the expiry o£ tile |)i'esent award is lixed at a higher rate Ikey would pay that rale lrom the piy! sent tune, meaning tket the men would !?et this as b.ick )iay. Alter tkeir relusal ol ikj comjianics' offer of 22s to-day, tlie men stated they are prepared to make no overtures, and that there can be no half-way kouse.

The lion. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, interviewed on the subject, said the Department imd endeavoured to point out to the men the lolly of their conduct. Tlie Jaw must be' obsei ved, and the law made specific provision for preventing anything of the land that bad taken place. The blame in this case appeared to rest entirely with the men, and lie was going i'o tawke the advice of the Crown Law OJliccrif-with a view to bringing the matter before the Court, which will be sitting here, within a week or ten ilay ( s. Both the Union and indiviuuat members of the Union will be included in the proceedings taken. The reports of the ollicers of this Department showed that a largn number of Australians were includcd'in the strike, and they had openly avowed tiiat tiiey did the same in Melbourne and got, an increase of 5s per hundred. This might be justilied in Australia, but when they came to New Zealand they must 'observe the law.

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. eu.inuton, February 13. The slaughterman have adopted an ultimatum for delivery to the employers, but its terms have not been divulged, and up to a late hour tonight the employers bad received no communication from the men, It is currently expected that the men will take 23s per hundred. b2£ L&tk,>?•■■■ ■ • • '