FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1926, Page 9

FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

VOLUNTEERS AT WORK. POSITION IN POVERTY BAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Nov. 23. The position with regard to the freezing works in Poverty Bay whieh have opened is entirely satisfactory. The volunteers who commenced work yesterday are making good progress. There were over 650 sheep killed at the Kaiti works yesterday, and about 500 at Taruheru. More butchers came forward for employment this morning, and there are now 26 slaughtermen on the board at Waipaoa and 20 at Kaiti.' A fair number of those at Taruheru are learners, but six unionist butchers who accepted employment at Kaiti are determined to continue, and a number of others on the board there are experienced men. To-morrow more butchers will be engaged at Kaiti. It is anticipated that close on 1000 sheep will be killed at each of the works to-day, and the number will improve steadily as the volunteers become more accustomed to the work. The members of the union are not interfering with the volunteers in any way, and it is stated that many are only too anxious to get to work themselves. While there has been no definite move to break away from the union in Gisborne up to the present, there is a good deal of dissatisfaction, and it is probable that the lead of the men in Hawke’s Bay will be followed. NEW UNION TO BE FORMED. Palmerston N., Nov. 23. A representative meeting of labourers of the Longburn freezing works last evening decided to form a new union, following a lengthy discussion. Steps are now being taken to register the new union. This morning, when the works opened, all the general labourers put in an appearance, but the butchers did not attend. Plenty of volunteer labour offered. A dozen men were placed on the boards, which is all tjiat is required by the works at present. It is anticipated that no difficulty will be encountered in carrying on. IMLAY WORKS TO OPEN. Wanganui, Nov. 23. A call for labour at the Imlay freezing works this morning brought no response. A start will be made with free labour to-morrow morning. No trouble is anticipated, as plenty of free labour is offering to carry on the works. HOSTILE MEETING AT HASTINGS. Napier, Last Night. A meeting of members of the Hawke’s Bay Freezing 'Workers’ Union at Hastings to-night was addressed by Mr. James Roberts, of the Alliance of Labour, and Mr. Mcßrine, president of the Auckland Watersidcrs’ Union. The meeting was a stormy one and a large number of hostile questions were asked, but no opportunity was given to vote approval or otherwise of the Alliance’s action in the present trouble. The only motion put to the meeting was one conveying thanks to the chairman The result is that the position is unchanged. There is reason to believe that the free labourers will shortly form a union, in which event many of the strikers assert that they will join if given the opportunity. There is no lack of evidence that the unionists in this district oppose the course being pursued at the dictation of the Alliance of Labour, but for some reason or other the men lack the courage to take charge of the position and conduct their own affairs according to their own wishes.