THE SLAUGHTERMEN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 January 1913, Page 5

THE SLAUGHTERMEN

STATEMENT UY vxios BISCItETARY. HIE HAT IN THE RING. Mr M J. Reardon } secretary of tho Slaughtermen's Union made the, Jollnwins yesteiday . <l I want.to «iy that the old batto remain there, ho began. 1. the slaughtermen faced fines amo intdup to over £IOOO, and end of public abuse, and they have lived to fight another day. . "My great anxiety now is to confine the dispute to the workers who are directly concerned. On expoit figures for 1911-12 the difterence between the companies and the men at the present time is but a payment o £6816-13s 6d. At a sale m recently it was stated that whecp dropped Is 6d per head because ol the threatened slaughtermen s «tiiko. Again, taking export figures or tho twelve months extending irom vembor, 1911. to 30th October IJI2, that drop represents a loss to the fanners of the Dominion of ; L40.),()1-. I cannot believe," added Mr Reardon, *'that these same farmers are going to sacrifice anything like that amount for something under £(000. Ihe inference to be drawn is that this is not ji fight over a more question of wages, J n it n lust for victory. Events over which the slaughtermen have had no •control, and, indeed, have little sympathy for, have occurred in recent months, and have brought to employers together, strengthened and more determined than they have hitherto been. It would seem that the ■desire is not for a settlement, but lor ■war. My opinion has been emphasised by the attitude of the employers during both of the conferences we have had. At our first conference, in Julv, although we were met at tho invitation of the employers, and although they knew we were asking for Sin increase, they simply sat down a«id said: 'We decline to consider anything unless you will agree to the old conditions.' The conference lasted prol>-ably-one.hour, during which wo were 'doing all we emild to get the em- 1 ployers to discuss the situation as if they meant business. A.t the second conference, last month, when wo entered the room, the chairman briefly announced that they wero prepared to give 27s 6d, other conditions to remain as at present. Nothing else was discussed. Our proposals were never even looked at, and we came away on berth occasions without 'having discussed a single item in tho statement of claim or the counter proposals.

WILL FIGHT UNAIDED. "I feel," concluded. Mr Reardon, '.'fiat there will bo a disposition to fight anybody and everybody, and our anxiety is to confine the straggle to those immediately concerned. We have asked for assistance from none, mid we desire none outside to come to <mr assistance until we do ask. If any effort is made to spread the trouble to other industries, it will be with-, out the consent of the slaughtermen." SLAUGHTERMEN'S EARNINGS. (By Telegraph—Tress Association.) HASTINGS, Last Night. ■With reference, to a statement made ?>y Mr C. Were, secretary of the Canterbury Slaughtermen's Union, refiarding the earnings of slaughtermen at the .Canterbury freezing works, a. Tribune reporter was informed this morning that some butchers at Tomoana works earned £2OO last,season for eight months, and very few less than £l6O.

THIRTY SHILLINGS FOR TWENTY YEARS. OEERT SCHTTRGH. Last Night. A meeting of slaughtermen on Saturday night informally considered the offer of the companies and rejected it. Hip secretary says he has the con*wnt of his Union to sicn the agreement. on the basis of 30s, for twenty years. The men will insist on the wages, preference, and learners clauses in the demands. CHRTSTCHTIROH MEAT ABATTOIRS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. OHBJSTCHURCH, Last Night. ' It seems unlikely that in the event of a strike by the slaughtermen in Canterbury, the Chris'tehurch municipal abattoirs will be affected. Councillor C. B. Morris, chairman of the abattoirs committee of the City Conncj). m reply to a reporter's question oil the subject, said: "Wo are working under a very satisfactory award, and I have not heard a whisper of any discontent. The slaughtermen at the abattoirs, J suppose have the best award in New Zealand. They all seem satisfied, and I-do not anticipate any trouble. There i s not tho slightest hint or suggestion of discontent, and the men say they are satisfied with, the'award at present in operation. That award does not expire tdl September 1, 1914."

THK FARMERS' UXTOY. SUPPORTS THE COMPAXFES. PALMERSTOX X, t Last. Xight. A well-attended meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the farmers' Union was held at Piflmerfctou Xorth to-day. Mr J. G. Wilson presided. Representatives were present from the Wairarapa and West Coast branches. The question of the slaughter men's demand was discussed, and the serious effect that the closd(nv'> of the freezing works would have on the fanning industry; throughout the Dominion was referral to. Iho opinions expressed by the representatives of the various districts ■wore quite in favour of .supporting ihe freezing companies as to the rate offered (27s Gd per 100) and afco as to the apprentice clause. It was unanimously decided to approve of tho

action of the freezing companies, and that copies' of- the resolution -be sent to the chairman of the >.Z. Freezing Companies Association, -and to tlie Chairman of the North Island Association. "OUT FOR BLOOD." SLAUGHTERMEN CEASE WORK. NO DEMONSTRATION. WELLINGTON, La<st Night. "Out for blood this time!" In these words the secretary of the N.Z. Slaughtermen's Federation (Mr.M. J. Reardon) to-night summed up the po sition so far as the men are concerned in the dispute whicjh erttered upon its most serious phase this afternoon. He indicated clearly that the men are determined to fight to the very last to secure that which they consider they are. justified in claiming. Knives were sheathed and work was stopped for an indefinite period at the Petone and Ngahauranga works in the afternoon. The Gear Company's s-laughtemien cut out at about 2 o'clock, when each man had averaged about 00 sheep i the day. At Ngahauranga the supply was greater, and the last was not killed until just on 4 o'clock, when the men had an average of about eighty each. Now there is not a live hoof on the premises with the exception of the decoy sheap. Ihiiuo was no demonstration of any sort when the men knocked off work. They simply parsed a few cheery remarks t.> one another as the end came. They gathered up their tools, and all they possessed and walked away. Thus did the strike, if lefally it i? a stiike, at all 5 bein. 1 : !ie Wellington Union has not yet sent any reply to the companies' ultimatum, and so far as can he ascertained doss not intend to do so. The men will let their action of today stand a.s indicating their position and determination.

The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr P. Hally), who has just returned from an official visit to Wanganui and Napier, states that he intends to remain in Wellington in order to help in the settlement of tho trouble. "It is more than likely," he said, "that before the end of the week J will make a move in the direction of bringing the parties together."

A COMPACT BROKEN'. "Those men have gone back on the compact they entered into three years ago, when under a new agreement they got a substantial rise in tho killing rate." This remark was made to a reporter yesterday by one in a position to know how matters stand. He declared that the Meat Companies only agreed to tho advance in rates in consideration of what appeared to be a, good prospect of five years peace. When the agreement was drawn up, he said, both parties were willing to give it a term of five years, but it was found that undor the Arbitration Act no agreement could be registered For a. longer 'term than tlireo years. So the agreement was given the shorter term. But that thicre was a complete understanding j that it-should hold tiood for five years was proved by the inclusion of clause 18, which provided that "the Slaughtermen's Federation shall further agree to undertake by means of separate agreements to use its best endeavours to renew this agreement in all its essential details at the expiration of the term for a further period of two yearn."