SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 221, 6 February 1913, Page 4

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

THE I'OSJTIOX IN CHRISTCHUrRCH. Per Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night.. The most interesting development, in the slaughtermen's dispute is the applications of the three big Union* concerned, including Canterbury, for registration under the. Arbitration Act. The move is a "slim" one designed to protect the men on strike against the formation of a "scab union" by non-represen-tative workers, and a consequent struggle on the lines of the Waihi strike. Meanwhile the position of the contending parties is unchanged. The companies are reported to have had a certain response to their application for fiee labor, but have not yet'fixed a date for restarting their works. The ,-la.ughtermen still maintain that no • sperts will offer themselves, and that the learnersavailable will he incompetent to do anything like satisfactory work, a;.d unable to break the back of the st.-ike. The companies, on the other Land, are said to welcome a stoppage of a week or two, and have not been iiicoiivvn-.'iod so far.

The. attitude of the waterside woikers toward "scab" labor will have i.n important bearing on the straggle between the men and the com pa -lies. The two Unions are not affiliated to one ;m.other, but it is confidently that if "free" labor is put on work the stc-uJors will refuse to handle Mie .:ieat. The matter has been before the waterside workers, and has been lvf-'r'vd to the executive of the Federation of labor for a pronouncement. GISBORNE GETS TO WORK. Gisborne, Last Night. Slaughtering operations under free labor conditions were being continued satisfactorily to-day at the Kniti and Tokomaru works. There were 23 men on the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat Company's board when work was resumed this morning. Several of the men who had been working the two previous days were absent through minor injuries, cuts, etc. At one o'clock the number had been strengthened to 27. The company intend taking on new men as they come along, until the board is made up to 40. Questioned as to the position, Mr. C. A. Dclatour, chairman of directors, stated that the work was very satisfactory and quite up to the average of the experts. There was nothing whatever to complain of on the cooling floor yesterday. "We are quite satisfied." lie said, "whether the slaughtermen remain out [or not. We shall get through the season with satisfaction to our customers. While it will be a nutter for regret if -if has to be done without the assistance of our past servants, who have done this work well, still that is not going to prevent us fulfilling our contracts with our clients." The interval that must expire before a full board is efficient will eausei some delay, but I do not anticipate that' will be inconvenient, taking into ac- t

count the advanced stage of the season and the feed that is available. Another thing that is disappointing is that it is absolutely necessary to reduce ,the number of hands attendant upon the output of the slaughter board that would otherwise be employed. That, however, is quite beyond the control of the company until work obtains its normal limits."

This afternoon Mr. A. Dewing, manager of Messrs. Nelson Bros.' Taruheru works, informed a reporter that it had been decided to resume operations at Taruheru on Monday. The works will resume with the assurance of a full board of slaughtermen. As a matter of fact, the company could have made a start to-dav, but in view of Thursday and Friday being race (lavs the employees generally prefer to attend the ■same, and Saturday being a half-day it had been arranged to postpone the start till Monday. Mr. Dewing added that there would be no difficulty Aylmtever in filling the board. The men th-it were being taken on were outsiders, although several had lulled at Tomoana at different times. The new hands were mostly from the country, and were men who had a knowledge of the work. There are now IS men on the boards at Tokoniarn and work is going along ouietly. Mr. ,T. Reardon is expected here, on Friday, and as a mass meeting of the Freezers' Union is convened for Monday night, probably something definite as to the attitude of the freezers will be then forthcoming. WAXCANUI REOPENING. Wanganui, Last Ni<jht. The VI anganui Freezing Company's call for free labor has been responded to by twenty men. and it is anticipated by the management that work will be in full swing again with full boards on Monday.

FREE WORKERS DOTNG WELT.. Hastings, Wednesday. Messrs. Borthwick's Pakipaki freezing works resumed operations to-day with a board consisting of six free laborers. Applications are coming in freely. The firm is only engaging men who have had experience with the knife, and expect that twelve men will be workijig to-morrow. The men are not making large tallies, but the dressing is up to the average standard, only one or two carcases having been rejected as unfit for expert. The speed of killing will increase every day. The firm is thoroughly satisfied with the work done. Nelsons (Toinoana) report that work was resumed this morning with twentyeight men. They will only work a threequarter day until the men are accustomed to their task. The killing is being done entirely to the firm's satisfaction. and there has been no trouble of any kind. The North British (Napier) Company reports that the twelve men on the boards are a little bit slow, but very ( satisfactory work is being done. Everything is going on quietly. The general | opinion a'.-.iong the employers here is I that the local slaughtermen are not dissatisfied. and would never have been on strike but for outside influence. ! MEETING OF HASTINGS UNION. Hastings, Wednesday. The Freezing Works Industrial Union of Workers held a meeting last night, when 200 members were present, including practically all workers other! than slaughtermen from the local works. The meeting was not open to the press. Information supplied by the secretary, this morning was to the effect that, as insufficient notice of the meeting had! been given, no resolution was passed 1 , Tint the position was fully discussed, and! it was agreed that members of the union should remain at work irrespective of the fact that the killing boards were manned by free laborers.