Hung Up!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 5

Hung Up!

THE HEAT INDUSTRY. A general strike. AN EMPLOYERS' CONFERENCE. ULTIMATUM TO THE MEN. By Telegraph—Press Association. aii « , Wellin " ton < L "st Night. 7fi „, , e frying companies in New except that at Nelson, were (piesented at the Conference held t.omU° ''T tLfi sl *™nen's demauds. The following official statement f'L, wns finished by Sir ' oige Clifford, who presided:—"The foumi r< n C ? i rreezin ff Companies have thp n th< ! ms ® lves enable to recede from the hberal offer already made by them of 'i° °i " s l' el " carcases of sheep or lambs. Tliere has been a steady I'ise since 190fi. from 20s per 100, and the present rate of 25s per 100 seems to the onterence to be adequate remuneration lor the work performed. Nevertheless, to prevent a dislocation of trade and the cessation of employment for the other on per cent, of their employees, the companies are willing to meet the demand tor increased wages to slaughtermen to extent named. The companies cannot concede the demand of the slaughtermen as to the further restrictioiis°of earners, which limits the number of learners to one in proportion to ?0 slaughtermen, and to only one such set of learners in each season; and. moreover, practically confines to one class of men the supply of such learners. This demand would automatically destroy the industry for all interested in it. whether employers or employed, within a certain period, and is, moreover, subversive of the freedom of the individual to' choose his career in a free country. Neither can the companies consent to the alteration of what are called the preference conditions. These have hitherto rendered it compulsory upon all slaughtermen to join the Slaughtermen's Union, but have also imposed upon the Union the obligation to admit all c'ulyqualified applicants. The new demands upset this equally balanced compromise, and cannot be accepted, even in ltd interest of the workers themselves. There are further demands (as to *he arrangement of the hours of work, which would dislocate the whole of the complicated machinery of the larger factories. The stipulation that bo slaughtering sluuld commence before 8 a.m. would necessar- ( ily drift the work in other departments to a later hour than .ri present, rnd cannot be conceded in f aini'!3S to otl er j workers, nor in justice to the clients of' the companies. The companies now renew their former offer of an increase of wages to 27s 6<l per 100, and hav ( e asked for a definite reply accepting the same within seven days, failing which thev' will consider themselves free to make such other arrangements for carrying on their business as may seem best."

In a letter sent subsequently to Mr. Reardon. secretary of the Slaughtermen's Union, the following resolution of the Conference was conveyed;-—"That the offer of 27s fid per 100 (plus other modibe once more and finally offered to the offer as to the South Island conditions) be one more and finallv offered to the slaughtermen. A reply to this offer now made by the Conference of freezing companies is required days, from Friday. .January 17th."

THE CASE FOE THE MEN. Christchurch, Last Night. In an interview to-day Mr. C. Were, secretary of the Canterbury Slaughtermen's Union, made an important statement in connection with the slaughtermen's dispute. "Formal notice was given on Wednesday. January 14, of our intention to cease work under clause 9 of the Act, the principal demand being for 30s per 101). That notice expires on Tuesday, the 20th inst.. when work will be stopped unless our requests are agreed to." Continuing, Mr. Were said, '•The slaughtermen consider that thenlabor is well worth the price demanded, and that fid worth of coppers is worth sixpence without taking into consideration the dangers of cuts and poisoning. Last year one man lost seven weeks' work through blood poisoning. He was not able to kill again without assistance, but lie got lighter employment. Others lost two or three weeks' work. Two years ago a man lost the use of his hand permanently, and others had fingers amputated. The men admit that they get a bit of compensation, but contend that it amounts to very little compared to the pay in the busy time, because compensation b, calculated over the average of short days as well as long days. The fanners say that the slaughtermen can earn '2s* per day. The men admit that they do that some days, but a slaughterman has to live all the year round. The biggest amounts drawn last year in Canterbury were: Belfast I'll 5* islington £ll4, Fairfield £OO. Smithfield £ll4, Pareora £ll6. These were the highest amounts drawn by men fortunate enough not to receive cuts or blood loisoning, and so lose time." "If these arc the highest amounts," Mr. Were proceeded, "where does the average man come in? At one works alone in Canterbury there were ten subscription lists passed round to assist those who had lost time through accidents. Every slaughterman is liable to these accidents. In addition, the farmers admit that it is anything but pleasant work, shut up in a hot slaughterhouse. especially on a day like Tuesday last. It is worth 2os to stay in there one day like that, without doing 25s worth of work. The season lasts about eight months in Canterbniy. In the slack time some can get other employment, but the position is that these works close down in the very worst time of the year—the eml of July or the beginning of August—when the labor market is overflowing with out-of-works. Some go to Australia, but by the time they pay their hoard there and their passage money, etc., they have to earn about £35 in expenses before they get anything for themselves, If a man is unfortunate enough to get cut or poisoned. he does not earn even £33. So. taking one consideration with another, the slaughtermen have arrived at the conclusion that at least a living waire must lie got here. The companies got their dividends in eijjht months, and the slaughtermen say that we must make our year's living in the same time. The employers admit that it is the most I;.boring work connected with the industry. and they also admit the dangers connected therewith, by the fact that the insurance premiums for slaughtermen are 50 per cent, higher than in other occupations. Therefore, the .slaughtermen consider that their demands are fair and reasonable. Some farmers say that this is an annual recurrence. and they may us well fight now as any other time. The slaughtermen say: 'We want 30s, and we won't be satisfied until ge get it.'" DEMANDS CONCEDED AT M-iSTFR-TON. Gisborne, Last Night. A wire has been received here by the. Shi lightermen's Union from an official labor source, slating that the Waingawa Faezing Company (Mastcrton) has conceded the men's demand for 30s.

j WAINGAWA TO GO OUT. ? Masterton, Last Night. : The slaughtermen at Waingawa Freezj ing Works to-day gave notice of their c intention to cease work on the expiry of the award on January 31. WELLINGTON' MO AT WORK. , , Wellington, Friday. 0 slaughtermen are working as usual at the old rate. The a"Tce- , ment expired last night, and there"will not be a stoppage without notice. Representatives of the freezing companies are conferring in Wellington. The im--1 pression here is that the Canterbury companies are willing to pay the advanced rate.

Timaru, Friday, j Henness.v. secretary of the Sniithfield 1 Slaughtermen's Union, informed a Post i epoiter that the union has given notice to cease work. The men will down tools on January 29. ITeimessy said he was speaking only for his own men. THE WATTARA WORKS. Waitara, Last Night. The butchers employed at the Waitara Freezing Works gave notice to-day that they would cease work on the 30th inst. CANTERBURY TO CEASE WORK. Christehurch. Last Night. The Canterbury slaughtermen gave notice on January 1/i of their intention to ceafee work. The notice expires on January 20.