FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1926, Page 9

FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

THE EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE CANNOT RECEDE FROM STAND. “HiGIIER WAGES IMPOSSIBLE.” By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 29. ‘*l'he freezing employers,” said Mr. J. Milne in a statement yesterday, "have made it quite clear that they cannot recede from their attitude in respect to the union's claim for a general incrca in rates of pay and their offer to refer this and any other matter to the Arbitration Court is contingent on manning the works immediately.” He answers the statements in the Press in regard to the earnings and says that from the records the companies posses the average earnings show the following: Slaughtering aa- > sistants £4 Ils 4d; offal house £4 10s 8d; freezing chambers £5 17s 4d; fellmongery £5 4s 2d; tallow manure £4 16s 8d; yard labourers £4 10s; preserving department £4 6s (id; hide department £4 Iss. The earnings quoted in the newspapers appear to be isolated cases. The present position in the industry and country generally is such as to indicate that no further increases in wages will be possible; in fact, it will be difficult to maintain rates of pay at the present standard. GISBORNE WORKS BUSY. Gisborne, Nov. 29. Full boards of 40 butchers are operating at both the local freezing works to-day. There is expected to lie no difficulty in killing 1500 to 2000 sheep daily at each works. A PAHIATUA RESOLUTION. Pahiatua, Nov. 29. A large and representative meeting of farmers passed resolutions supporting the organising of free labour for the freezing works during the present trouble, also urging upon the executive of the Farmers’ Union to do all possible to have the preference to unionists clause in the Act eliminated. ATTITUDE OF WATERSIDERS. NO RESPONSE TO CALL AT NAPIER Napier, Last Night. A call was made late this afternoon for labour to load frozen meat, killed by non-unionists, to the Port Hobart, which is completing her loading at this port. There was no response td the call, but this might be due to the shortage of labour owing to the number of vessels in port. However, the real test of the attitude of the watersiders will come on Wednesday morning, when a further call will be made.