Sydney Butchers

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 195, 16 February 1914, Page 5

Sydney Butchers

NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. ALL SHOPS TO BE CLOSED. TRICES ADVANCIXU. By Gable—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, February 14. At the conference between the Minister of Labor and ihe employers, M'\ Estell, after some dilliculty. succeeded in gaining the consent of the employers to renew the offer previously withdrawn, believing a settlement could be effected. This, however, the grand council of the union rejected. Negotiations are now closed so far as tii» Department of Labor and Industry U concerned, and there is every indication of a protracted struggle. When the, meeting of the Master Butchers' Association hoard the decision of the union to turn down the eir. ployers' offer .they unanimously decided not to back down, but to light it our. The chairman said the onus of the whole trouble now rested with the men, and any move towards a settlement must come from them.

After to-day no meat will lie procurable. , All the shops will be closed, and any meat lety over will be given to charitable institutions. On Monday there will lie no meat whatevei.

Tlie whole meat trade is disorganised, including the export trade. The cold stores supplied carcases intended lor export, which have now oeeir put on the local market. Only the pig and calf section of the slaughter yards were working yesterday, and the surplus cattle were turned to grass. Following New Zealand's lead. tle> farmers are willing to come to Sydney las strike-breakers if necessary. The Workers' Union and the Labor Federation have decided to stand by the men. The secretary of the latter suggests that the Government should order the sale of stock in the publij interests, and distribute supplies. The, price of canned sheep tongues has already advanced. Stocks of dairy | produce are very light, and any extra demand will send prices up rapidly. OVERTURES FOR A SETTLEMENT. MOVE BY THE EMPLOYERS. OPERATIONS MAY BE RESUMED TODAY. Received IG, 1 a.m. Sydney, Last Night. The Meat Employers' Committee has passed a resolution that in the event of the men returning to work forthwith in aceord with the existing award and conditions in force on February 4 and the employees wishing to apply to the Wages Board for a variation of the award, the employers will not oppose such application, but do everything in their power to expedite the Board's arrival at a decision, and that if the men nccept this offer, the oarease butchers will resume operations tomorrow, and agents will give notice of resumption of sales on Tuesday.

Tlio.se resol«tions were submitted io Mr. EsteXl, who placed them before the eommittee representing the employees. This committee claimed to have no authority to accept or reject any proposals coming from the masters, but will place the offer made before r. mass meeting on Monday night. Mr. Estell gave the men to tinderstand that the Department would take no further action with regard to enforcing the awards until a satisfactory solution had been arrived at.

At Mr. Estell's request the employers decided to resume slaughtering operations to-morrow.

Plenty of meat will, therefore, lie available for the public, and retailers' shops will be thrown open as an invitation to the men to resume work, but no move is anticipated until after the mass meeting. Received IG, 12.-20 a.m. i Sydney. Last Night. The secretary of the Australian Workers' Union declares there is a conspiracy, on the part of the Employers' Federation to keop meat from the public. He considers the C.overnment should step in ar.J control the abattoirs. The Government, would lie justified in immediately arresting and putting in gaol every member of the committee appointed by the Employers' Federation with the recent precedent for deportation. Members o£ this Committee. Union could place live

thousand men, armed if necessary, at the service of the country to protect the interests of the public and ensure a food supply.

The master butchers met to-day an,l approved the Committee's resolutions, find decided on the resumption of work at Clelie, Island, and cattle will be soid at Homebush.

Mr. Furso, of the Employees' Union, commenting on the employe rs' proposals, says the men are willing ti> resume to-morrow, provided the wages and terms asked for are granted.