SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 220, 5 February 1913, Page 5

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

THE HASTINGS WORKS. PLENTY OF FREE LABOR. Per Press Association. Hastings, Last Night, The Tomona works will re-open tomorrow. The film had no difficulty in obtaining free labor, and slaughtering will be resumed with a full hoard. Those men who have come to the assistance will be allowed to retain their hooks as long as they desire, and every reasonable opportunity will be allowed them to become expert slaughtermen. In the event of vacancies occurring on the boards the strikers will be allowed to go back to work should tliey feel inclined to do so.

With reference to the remarks of one of the strikers, reported in the Tribune, to the effect that work dqne by inexperienced hands might be satisfactory to the firms, but it was doubtful' if the farmers would put up with it for verylong, etc., Messrs. Nelson Bros.' opinionis q-iite the reverse, and they anticipate thai slaughtering work will lie done very much better by new board- of men than has been done for some time past. If it is worse, then it will be very bad indeed.

With regard to the Pakipaki freezing, works no information was ascertainable to-day, but it is understood that as yet Messrs. Borthwick and Sons have not obtained a full board, and the workfi are still closed.

The .!< reefers' I nion is holding a meeting here to-night.

THE POSITION IN CANTERBURY. Christchurch, Last Night. There are no developments to .record m connection with the trouble with the slaughtermen in Canterbury. Each side is waiting for the other to capitulate, and as far as outward appearances go capitulation is the idea farthest from intention, of either. Enquiries at the oflice_ of the Freezing Companies this morning ag to the number of applications received in response to the companies advertisements calling for the services of expert slaughtermen were productive of uo result, except a statement that the date when works will be reopened will be dulv announced.

THE REAL TESTING GROUND. Wellington, Last Night. The secretary of the Slaughtermen's Federation states that the three unions which are involved in the present dispute (Wellington, Poverty Bay and Canterbury) have made application for reregistration under the Arbitration Act. The other three unions (Auckland, Otago and Southland) will make, similar applications shortly, and when all unions are registered again the Federation will follow suit. The previous registrations, it may be noted, of unions and the Federations were cancelled on January 16. Asked for an explanation of this move, the secretary (Mr. Reardon) would only say: "It is part of our plan." So far as the two Wellington meat freezing companies are concerned, no apparent move has been made in the direction of securing free labor to man the killinghoards at Petone and Ngaliauranga, in place of slaughtermen who are now taking holiday. The works are still idle, and it is understood that they are likely to remain so for a time. This, however, cannot be taken to mean that the companies are not making preparations to re-start should circumstances prove favorable. It is believed that some very definite plans have been evolved, but that before putting them into operation the companies are waiting to see how other concerns fare in their invitations to free labor. Wellington seems to be regarded as the real testing ground of the strike, and companies here, in consequence, are going to move with great caution. A slaughterman who arrived from England by the Remuera last evening was told that there was any amount of work to be done in bis particular line, if he liked to take it. He had, however, such a dislike of the term "scab" that he would not run the risk of having it applied to him, so he sought other employment instead. .

WANGANUI COMPLACENT. Wanganui. Night. "With the exception of the fact that the slaughtermen h.ive ceased killing abattoir meat, there is nothing to record hero. The men agreed some dftvs ago to slaughter for local requirements, but the terms now advanced are not acceptable to the directors of tlie company. Arrangements have already been made, so that the prospects 'of' a meat famine are remote. The company has received several offers of assistance, and hopes soon to commence operations again. The freeze!.- are adopting a neu : tral attitude. A number of men have already had their services dispensed with. About 150 outside' of butchers will be affected.

GISBORNE WORKS RESUME. Gisborne, Last Night. The Tokomaru Bay freezing works resumed work at 0 o'clock this morning with free labor on the boards, including' three natives. By noon the natives had been increased to eleven. The management is quite satisfied, and expects to have a full board in the course of a day or two. There lias been no trouble with the strikers. The new men are, killing at the rate of from seven to ten sheep per hour, which is considered satisfactory. At the Kaiti works no fewer than 21! men were working on the boards this afternoon, including learners, and more are expected to-morrow. It is stated (.hat although a fair number of the she-']) slaughtered on Monday were rejected for freezing, the number to-day, was very small, and that the slaughtering was quite to the standard of recent' days with the old slaughtermen. The company expects to be turning out. its usual output in about a fortnight. WORK RESUMED AT NAPIER. Napier, Last Night. As had been arranged slaughtering at the North British Freezing Company's Works was resumed to-day by the aid of /free labor. There was practically nodemonstration on the part of the displaced strikers, who took the matter very quietly, and, indeed, it is said that many of the single men are pr'epuaring to leave the district to seek pastures new. No admittance to the works could be gained, but a reporter was ihformed by the managing director to-night that more applications for work had been received than the company couldj grant, and that no difficulty was.anticipated in being able to continue operations on a satisfactory basis, A full staff was not employed to-day, on account of the fact that the overseer had to instruct a number of the men, but what work was done was done very well, although, perhaps, not so quickly as by older and more experienced butchers.