SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 222, 7 February 1913, Page 4

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

MANNING THE BOARDS WITH FREE. LABOR. THE POSITION IN CANTERBURY. NORTH VERSUS SOUTH. . Per Press Association* Chi'Liichurch, Last Night. A reporter asked Mr. P .C. Webb, president of the New Zealand Federation, of Labor, who was in town to-day, if the Federation had been approached by either the slaughtermen or the waterside workers on the subject of the trouble at present existing. Mr. Webbsaid that he had been absent from Wellington, the Federation's headquarters for some days, and was not aware that any communication had been received, from either body mentioned, and the executive of the Federation had not yet discussed the matter.

Whatever may be going on behind the scenes outwardly all is quiet at the twolocal freezing works, and there are noexciting happenings to record. Following the lead of Belfast a guard is now stationed at the main entrance to the Islington works, and the reporter who visited the place was told that there was no admittance to anybody. The only people who were allowed within the precincts are the employees actually engaged in the place. Work has been found for a fair percentage of men other than slaughtermen, but it will not last more than another week at the outside, and then every hand will have to be paid off.

Mr. Leslie, the manager, was commend*

ably discreet when the question of free labor was touched upon, but said that there had been a fair number of applications from men who were willing to man the boards, bat he would not hazard an opinion as to the capabilities of the applicants, nor could ho give the slightest indication whew there was a likelihood of the works stoffihg again. At present the only killing'that is being done is for local consumption, and this, of course,, is of a very small proportions. The Deputy-Mayor has received a letter from the secretary of the Slaughtermen's Union, enclosing the following resolution, adopted at a meeting of the Union held on Monday night:—"This meeting recommends that slaughtermen employed at the city abattoirs at Stockburn not to. kill any stock for boiling down purposes." . The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. H. B. Sorensen) informed a reporter to-day that no slaughtering for boiling down was being done at the abattoirs, nor was there any intention of taking on any such work. Occasionally to oblige butchers small lines of stock were slaughtered at the abattoirs for boiling down, but work at the abattoirs consisted principally of slaughtering for local consumption, ' ; HASTINGS KEEPS GOING. " "" STATEMENT FROM THE STRIKERS.'. Hastings, Last Night.

Mr. M. J. Reardon ? secretary of theSlaughtermen's Federation, arrived in Hastings last evening, and subsequently attended a, meeting of the, .Slaughtermen's Union. Interviewed to-day Mr. Reardon said that there was no information for the Press arising out of the meeting. Asked if there had been any change in the men's attitude, Mr. Reardon Teplied in the negative. He said that the tallies recorded by the men whowent on the boards .yesterday did not affect their position.' At Tomoana 28 men killed 500 sheep, and at Pakipaki 8' men managed to put through 143, whilst at the North British works,, there were ten butchers, ineluding 8 Maoris. So far as he could!, learn only one Unionist had caved in, and returned to work. That was at Tomoana. The tallies recorded yesterday did not weaken the position of "the strikers, and they were quiet satisfied. In reply to a further question, Mr. Reardon said that negotiations werenow in progress with a large buver in the North Island who was prepared to. grant the new demands. The gentleman in question had a number of contracts' to fulfil for the Home market, and hewould insist on the,companies killing' sheep according to the terms of the agreement entered into at the Waingawa works, but had not been eoiwuUed.. The sheep he had bought would he slaughtered at the works most convenient for delivery. As long as the butchers were prepared to do the slaughtering lie would insist on the companies doing the freezing. The strikers are very reticent regarding what took place at last night's meeting, and no information is obtainable: >lt is uderstood that the men were unanimously in favour of standing, by their demands, and are confident that the companies will ultimately agree to the new terms asked for.

Twelve men went on the hoard; at Pakipaki to-day. Applications are coming from outside districts, hut preference will he given to local men. Twenty eight men slaughtered 800 sheep in a short day at Tomoana, and their work is improving.

THE WATERSIDE WORKERS.

A PROBABLE STRIKE,

Gisborne, Last Night. The possible attitude of the waterside workers in regard to the employment of free labor on the slaughtering boards at the freezing works lias been much discussed of late, and light is thrown on the matter by the following resolution, which was _ carried unanimously at a lave meeting of Gisborne waterside workers to-night: "That this meeting accords the slaughtermen's Union support, and in the future will give all the support possible without infringm* the Gisborne waterside workers a "Tee* ment." This is interpreted to mean "that the waterside workers may possihlv reI fuse to handle "free labor" meat. ' The companies, however, .anticipated such a contingency when preparing their plans for the introduction of free labor to the boards, and the meeting of sheep-farmers held some weeks ago pledged themselves to stand by the companies right through even, it was understood, in, the matter, of shipping the meat, should the watersiders determine not to handle the meat. There is every indication that the pledged country labor will be. employed fon the work. The intention of the fanners and the companies is to resolutely meet' one difficulty after another. The free labor slaughtermen employed at KuitS observed a "turf" holiday to-day on account of the local races, but will resume to-morrow.

THE PALMERSTON WORKS

RESTARTING WITH FREE LABOR,

Palmerston North, Last Night. The Longhurn Freezing Works" will start killing again "on Monday at 8 o'clock. The company have been advertising for slaughtermen and have been successful.

WORK RESUMED AT WAITARA..' '< Slaughtering was resumed at Messrs. Rorthwick and Sons works at Waitara yesterday morning, with a hoard of six butchers, who are said to be doing good work. The Hon. A. M. Borthwick expresses himself as well satisfied with the work the men are doing and anticipates no difficulty in obtaining a full hoa-i! of butchers.