SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 23 February 1907, Page 2

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

ABBITJJATIOIN COURT PRO-

CEEDINGS. CASK AGAINST THK WELLINGTON' MEN, Per Press Association. Wellington, February 22. M a sitting of the Arbitration Court this morning, jir.ccediags were commenced against the slaughtermen who went out on strike at the Gear Company's works.

Mr Skeri'ett, who appeared for the men, raised a preliminary objection, claiming that the Court had no jurisdiction, that it was asked to impose a line under Section 15 when tho application was to force an agreement, and this it could not do.

After argument, the Court held that the proceedings under Section 15 wee not to enforce an agreement, but the Court thought that tho present application might be traued as an application for a penalty under (Section 15. Doreiulants understool the charge which they had to meet. ] f the charge were established the only question would be tho amount of penalty the Court thought fit to impose; therefore that it had jurisdiction lo hear the present application as an application for penalty under section la. Mr Gully applied to appear on bohalf of the Meat Export Company, but as the proceedings were not for the enforcement of an award he could not do so.

Mr Gray then opened the case on behalf of the Labor Department. It was the first of the kind 111 the colony, and was of the greatest importance. He reco-inted the circumstances of the recent trouble, submitting that thojgh the word might be objected to, there nas no doubt that from a commonsense view there had been a strike, and the action of the men had resulted in great loss and inconvenience. Jf tho offence were proved ho should ask the Court to impose a penalty which would nuke it patent to all that the law must be observed.

Arthur Cooper, President of the Uniojj, staled that the Union met, on l.m night of February 11, about ninety member,, attending. It Wils duaitd that the oiler <>l the companies was uu,sal<sfa;ctqi/y, and that immediate! ji.i-ps should be taken to cancel the re-g-stratiou of the Union. They did not exacttly Idiscuss n oil work" was the expression used. Several members, ho could not remember exactly who, talked of it. There was not a word at the meeting abou'; stopping work next morning. Tne only part taken by the Union was a. the meeting at which the proposed new agreement was discussed. The Union had in no way aided or abetted the strike, or applied any of ils funds to that purpose. His expenses all eamo out of ids own pocket. Kdward Coirndr, managed oft theStock Department at the Gear Company's works, said that oij the day the men stopped work they said thev know ipnte well what they were doing. On the day bf 'tho stiiike;, there \vWc( 10,000 sheep and lambs at the works,' but by the time the company got, the supply of sheep stopped coming down from the country, the number reached between 11,000 and 12,000. lliehard Jones, one of the butchers of the Aleat Export Company's works, until lately President of 'the , Slaughtermen'* Union, and one of the defendants, was called. lie said he stopped work on his own motion, as he thought of leaving tho district, lie bad no idea why the men ceased work, lie had done nothing to aid or abet the strike.

jMd evidence was called for the defence. Counsel, in addressing the Court for the defence, contended that (here was no case to answer. The agreement between the parties of 1004 had not, been hied until one dav after the thirty-one days from its completion allowed by statu!p.

The Court reserved decision.

TUOUBLE AT GLSBOENE.

Gisuowfii, February 22. Slaughtermen at the local freezing works made a demand for 25s per 100, an increase of ss, with the intimation that if not granted the works would be stopped at i p.m. to-dny. February 22 A meeting of the Freezers' "Union is being held to-night; h„t the proceedi"gs are being kept strictly private, and it is doubtful whether any further information will bo obtained to-night, iho secretary of the Union slates that there was no truth in the rumour that the men intended knocking oil' this afternoon. Tlieir request, he stated was not iu the form of an ultimatum' and they had asked for a reply this afternoon to enable them to discuss the matter further at the meeting to-night The request for 25s iwd been mnde by men at the lime of the making uf the award under which, they were now working, but it. had not been granted, and their present request was mcrclv on the line of their previous claim. ' Mr Delautour, Chairman of .Director--of the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' (Company, states that a similar request for an. increase of rate to that made to Messrs Nelson Bros, had bsen forwarded to the Gisborne company, and the mutter was under the consideration of the directors. The time of the award under which the men have been workmg expired iu August last, but under the Act it continues in force until superceded by a fresh award

FUimiEß. STIiIKES AT TLYUKU

Tisuku, February 22 Another strike occurred at the Pareora Freezing Works this mornin« the 45 butchers there employed de-' clining to start killing unless promi-cd i payment at the rate of 25s per 100 Some of the slaughtermen, when intcryiewed, said that the butchers at all freezing works iu Canterbury were m sympathy with them in their demand for this increase of 5s per 100. Borlluviclc & Sons, who put a large number of sheep through the Pareora works to-day, offered to pay the slaughtermen the rate they now demauded to kill about 2000 sheep for them to-morrow. The offer will probably be accepted.

'lt is understood a conference between representatives of the Canterbury Frozen ileal Co. and the slauglitcrmen is being held in Chnstchurch to-day, and the men on strike aro awaiting the result.

Another strike took place, at Smithlield works this morning. Forty butchers demanded an increase of pay from 20s (o 25s per 100, or ihoy would' not start, and the demand being refused, the sheep wore turned out again. If is understood a conference was held a OUristchurck to-diy |,i consider lullii- ntcM, but the Paavra ~„ u ,„.j ihey were not advised of ihil, or tlic'y would not have stopped. A minority of aboul one-fourth would l, c content lo go un, but gaye iii to the majority I'lie result of to-Jay's eonl'crenee is awailed. Tlie spokesman saw Sir (jeo Clifford jiassing through Timaru, and' t >ld Kim of the di maud, but Sir Oeoree gave uo definite reply. ' Mr Sinclair, Borlhwick's representative, had SSO freezers to be killed today, and personally oll'ered to pay the dilVerenee in rales as a bonus to get the slice]) out of (.lie «ay. The butchers agreed to kill if the company permitted them. This is being decided at Oliristchurch to-night.

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