THE MEAT WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 26 November 1912, Page 5

THE MEAT WORKS.

POSITION OF SLAUGHTERMEN

WILL WORK BE HELD UP?

f The Wairarapa Age stated a few J days back that there was likely to be > trouble with the- slaughtermen at Jtho various meat works in-the Dominj ion in tho near future, and that a > conference between the companies and j tho men, in C'hristehmch had proved I abortive. The Evening Post of last night had the following:—

"To-day there aro ominous rumours of a difficulty in the slaughtering trade, and incidentally the meat export trade of this province. It is freely asserted that the Wellington Slaughtermen's Union intends to cancel its registration under the Arbitration Act. and that, instead of the rate paid at present (25s per 100 sheep), the slaughtermen will •ask for 30s per hundred. The season is just at its height, and. any stoppage of work at this stagt> would be extremely embarrassing to the companies engaged" in the freezing industry. ; Probably, something definite will be known in a few days concerning the attitude of the men."

, MR. COOPER INTERVIEWED. Mr J. C. Cooper, managing director of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, was interviewed by a representative of the Wairarapa Age last night in reference to the above. Mr Cooper stated that it was incorrect to say that the season is now at its height. Unfortunately this was not so. The season would; not be at its height until well into .January, when the awards would be expiring.

A CONFERENCE. Mr Cooper .stated that it was true, as mentioned in the Age, that a conference had been held between representatives of '.the-southern companies and the slaughtermen in Christchurch. This conference had, however, proved abortive, and the men refused to allow the case to be taken to the Arbitration Court. ' % ■.'.;.'.•'' THE MEN'S DEMANDS.

The demands made by the slaughtermen are for an increase:..in.the pay for.killing sheep from 25s to 30s per hundred,;; .biilJeeks of 25 per cent.i.s the* increase in >v;a^es_,demanded,' r said Mr Cooper,"' -tliat w. hot/the inpst serious matter for 'the : companies.

The men are also demanding tliat. instead of there being one'learner to u ten shall be only one leather to twenty, and that no • learner shall be taken on if there is a Unionist available." Mr Cooper pointed out that the output from the various freezing works was enormously increasing, this necessitated! the "employmerit' of a great many, more slaughtermen than Tlie wastage in men was in greater ratio than could be made up by one learner in ten. and

if the number was made one in twenty it would mean ruin.to.'the fat lamb trade in Canterbury, and partial ruin in the North Island, as there were not nearly sufficient men to cope with the increasing output. Another demand which was considered unreasonable was..thattl)o sheep pens should be covered.

PROSPECTSOF STRIKE: "Do you think there is a prospect of a ""strike before the expiry of the awards?". ,"I do not think so," said Mr Cooper. He stated that it was necessary ; .tp f .give six weeks' notice cf the proposed cancellation of registration. If this notice were now given, the awards of,the Canterbury companies will have expired, arid those of the Wellington and Wairarapa companies will he nearing expiry. If the meiv. had cancelled their registration, they would be able to cease work.in Jstreiary without being amenable to the law. If they discontinued work now, they wotilcl be liable to prosecution, under the award.. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

"Then the outlook for the frozen meat trade may be.said to be 7'arher serious?" Mr Cooper admitted that it was so. It was. he' said, ,ser.ious .for the farmers, serious for the companies and serious for those men who were- willing to work under fair conditions. • •