FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1926, Page 9

FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

MORE TROUBLE BREWING POSITION AT WATROA. FARMERS URGED TO MAN WORKS. Napier, Last Night. hi calling upon the farmers of the district to man the works on December 1, Mr. J. S. Jessep, chairman of the Wairoa Farmers’ Freezing Company, and vice-chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, made the following statement: “The farmers of New Zealand are facing a serious crisis. No further increase in cost can be borne by the producers. The present demand for a 10 per cent, increase made by the union leaders on behalf of freezing works employees is a direct result of the entirely unwarranted increase granted by the Arbitration Court to shearers and shed hands. This increase in the cost of shearing has loaded the pastoral industry with a further £70,000 a year at a time when the industry can least afford, to bear it. It is a well-known fact that there was no general demand by the shearers for an increase, and the same applies with equal force to the present demand put forward by the union leaders in connection with the freezing industry. The great majority of workers were perfectly satisfied. Farmers, by manning the works, as they have done with such signal success in Hawke’s Bay, are serving notice to the country that no further increase in the cost of production can be tolerated. In faet, with the steadily dropping values of primary products, the cost must be reduced if production is to be maintained. Whilst union leaders are demanding a 44-hour week, farmers are working nearer 84 hours per week, and their land is being steadily confiscated by the increasing cost of every article they purchase. This increasing cost is largely due to artificial restrictions, such as Arbitration Court awards and Customs duty. Labour and industry, other than farming, is protected on all sides. The farmer alone must face the competition of the world. Land has reached the limit, and more than the limit, of the burden it can cany. Unless the present costs are lowered there will be five unemployed next winter for every one there was last winter, as all development work on farms and stations has been stopped.” MEETING AT MASTERTON. SUGGESTED CABLE TO LONDON. Masterton, Last Night. A combined meeting of representatives of stock firms and producers to consider the freezing works dispute, passed the following resolution: “Having in view the threat to boycott New Zealand meat in England, this meeting suggests that as the matter is of national importance, the Government should cable the situation to London. It should be pointed out that the freezing workers’ award does not expire until June, 1927, that the farmers’ returns for meat and wool are much less than when the award was made, and that the economic situation of the farmer, following the depression caused by the British coal strike, makes it impossible for him to carry on with any increased costs in reaching the consumers. The position is that, in the event of no labour offering, the farmers and their sons are prepared to do the work of killing the stock themselves.” DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. POSITION IN HAWKE'S BAY. Napier, Last Night. The Hawke’s Bay freezing workers meet again to-morrow night, and important developments are anticipated. It is believed a certain section of the strikers are organising a breakaway from the union and the formation of a new union. It is also understood that some of the free labourers have gone a good distance towards forming a union, and if this is accomplished membership will be offered to those of the present union who wish to break away If such a move is made it will probably mean an immediate settlement of the present strike. Similar action by the Auckland watersidera in 1913 was speedily effective in settling a general and similarly unpopular strike. The strikers here make no secret of their views, and openly assert that they are sick of hot working and resent the manner in which idleness has been forced upon them. WANGANUI SUPPORTS MEN. IMLAY WILL NOT BE MANNED. Wanganui, Last Night, A mass meeting of the local freezing workers ’o night carried a resolution endorsing the action of the Hawke’s Bay workers and pledging their support. Union men will not answer the call when when the Imlay works open to-morrow. After the meeting to-night Mr. A. McLeod, district secretary, told a reporter that the dispute was not confined to the slaughtermen, but concerned all the workers. They were more concerned with the workers whose earnings were below the bread line than with the piece workers, who could earn big sums ; n busy seasons. Quoting the 1925 figures, he said the fellmongers’ average earnings were £3 15s 7d, preservers £4 3s 4d, and slaughtermen £5 4s 4d to £6 2s. Last season the workers at Imlay averaged £4 2s 3d per week for 20 . weeks. The Whakatu workers averaged £3 17s lid from October 26, 1925, to July 6, 1926. Assistants behind the mutton butchers earned only £3 a week on account of broken time. Mr. McLeod attributed the existing situation to the refusal of the employers to meet the men in conference. GISBORNE WORKS OPEN. SOME UNIONISTS ENGAGED. By Telegraph. Preus Association. Gisborne, Nov. 22. The Gisborne sheepfarmers’ freezing works at Kaiti opened this morning with 17 men, including six members of the union, on the board. No other union labour was available and 11 volunteers were taken on. Plenty of labour is available to carry on the remainder of the .works. Nelson Bros.’ works at Waipaoa also opened with volunteer labour. NO RESPONSE AT MASTERTON. Masterton, Nov. 22. There was no response at Waingawa freezing works this morning to the call for labour. Work will commence on

Wednesday with volunteer slaughtermen, of whom plenty are offering. An official report of the meeting yesterday of the Masterton freezing workers states that, by a large majority, a resolution was passed endorsing the stand taken by the Hawke’s Bay men and pledging further support to render all possible further assistance to bring the dispute to a successful issue. Interviewed to-night, the manager of the Wairarapa Frozen Meat Company stated that the season would open tomorrow and, in the event of the men not turning up, work would be carried on from Wednesday by other means.