ATTITUDE OF SLAUGHTERMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1918, Page 8

ATTITUDE OF SLAUGHTERMEN

REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF AUS TRALIANS.,

A case was heard before the Military Appeal Board yesterday in which some interesting evidence was given regarding the attitude taken up by New Zealand slaughtermen in regard to the employment of Australian butchers. The question of the scarcity or otherwise of New Zealand slaughtermen was also touched on. The case was that of Walter Fuller, slaughterman, of Waitara, voluntary recruit, an adjourned appeal foi' further extension of leave. Mr. H. R. Billing appeared for appellant's employers, Messrs Borthwick and Sons, Waitara, and stated that the position was the same as in October, or, if anything, a little worse. John Blair, works superintendent at Waitara, deposed that their usual staff of beef butchers was nine. At present the firm only had five, and one of these was laid up with a I>ad hand. In the' mutton department, their full staff was 20, but they only had nine. They had relied on Australian butchers coming over, but there had been a Liter), as their slaughtermen Objected to working with them. Two Australian butchers were started on mutton the previous .day, but there was trouble at the works and i he did not know what would come out of it. To Captain Walker: These men eame over from Australia every year and had never been objected to before. The chairman: The effect of the conscription vote, I suppose. Continuing, appellant stated that he had received a telegram from Ms head ofHce in Christchurch, stating that the New Zealand butchers were prepared to allow all Australian butchers now in New Zealand to start providing that, exemption was given to all butchers m New Zealand, Witness understood that thp Smart Road employees also objected to the employment of Australian hutAers. Either at Imlay or the Gear Company's works, he believed that 50 Australian butchers had started. Last October when the appeal was first before the Board they were only keeping the canning works' giyng. The season this year began on December 3, later than usual. They were only at present doing half their usual output viz, 10 per day. With nine men they would do 2-dO. Tffey were in full swing bnt were not buying as much as they could because they could not put the stuff through. Mr. Finnerly, who gave evidence previously, was, on account of the shortage, unable to get away that day, The season would laat until August. To the chairman: They were killing lflrt cattle and 800 or 700 sheep per day. A man could kill 20 to 25, according as to whether they were large or small cattle. To Mr. McLaren: Tie did not know how many Australians were here, but he understood that about 400 came over every season.® The trouble was that Australian butchers could come to New Zealand, stay six months, and then return, whereas New Zealanders could only gn to Australia for three months and' had to deposit £.lO before leaving. Captain Waller said that the Efficiency Board had reported that there were 400 or iioo New Zealand butchers more than were required ■to do the work".

The chairman: Are they expert? Mr. McLaren said that the Efficiency Board reported that 000 slaughtermen were required to do all the slaughtering and there were WOO New Zealand slauglr tormon.

The chairman: Tt seems anomalous tliat there are 400 men more than are required,

Tn this particular ca?o it was resolved to recommend leave until August.