WAINGAWA FREEZING WORKS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10558, 13 February 1912, Page 5

WAINGAWA FREEZING WORKS

ATTITUDE OF THE MEN. WHAT SOME OF THE MEN ARE PAID. A number of wild rumours were in circulation in Masterton yesterday, concerning a development among the workers at the Waiugatva freezing works. It was freely reported that the men had decided to down tools •■out of sympathy for the strikers in (Wellington. Enquiries made by an '"Age" reporter showed that this report was, so far, without foundation. It transpires, however, that the general hands held a meeting on the t>anks of the "VTainga-wa river on Sundav, and decided to form themselves -into a union. It is understood that Mr M. J. lteardon, Secretary of the General Labourers' Union, was to be sent for. Mr Reardon, however, did uot arrive yesterday. Another meeting of the men was to have been held last night. .Mr J. 0. Cooper, Managing Director of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, was at the works yester'day, and inquired of the men if they had any-grievances. Jin only one or tfcwo cases, however, were there any indications of dissatisfaction. Most of the men were perfectly satisfied ■with their position. An unexpected development Jias arisen in regard to the slaughtermen at the Waingawa. When they staffed on Monday morning they were found to be going slow, and when asked) what it meant, they stated that they' had been instructed by their Union in Wellington that they must not | put through more than eight sheep | per hour, or sixty-four in the day. j This means that the works, instead of putting through over 2000 sheep per day, can only put- through 1300. The object of the "go slow" instruction is, it is stated, to prevent the •Waingawa works handling any of the sheep which were to have gone to .Wellington. As it happens, however, the local works ate full with their own stock for weeks to come, and the "go slow" process will only mean the lengthening cf the season. It is understood that a similar instruction has been sent to Longburn and other works. in connection with the Waingawa works, it may be interesting to | "know that the slaughtermen, at the I present time, are earning wages ranging from £5 to £8 per week. What are known as the "skin-pullers" are -earning from £7 up to £lO *ls 6d per week.. The last pay-sheet shows unskilled labourers to have earned £7 7s 9d, £7 14s 6d, and £B. 3s 9d for .forty-eight hours' wjjfk. The manure hands have earned from £8 9s to £3 14s 6d per week, and other hands have been similarly well .paid. It is reported that a mass meeting •of farmers will be held in Masterton at an early date, to consider the position in regard to freezing works -generally. If the demands made upon ; the Wellington firms are conceded, ; and are extended throughout the Dominion, an extra charge of fully Is per head will require to lie made oil all sheep slaughtered. This is a very i -serious matter to the farmer.