SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 August 1913, Page 4

SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE

AND THE WAINGAfWA WORKS. ATTITUDE OF COMPANY DEFENDED. In hia address at the meeting, of shareholders of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company yesterday, MrJ. 0. Cooper stated: ' 'While speaking to the .motion before the. meeting, I feel it my duty to refer briefly to the slaughtermen's trouble of the past season, particularly in view of the fact that your board decided to come to terms with the men and keep the works open, providing the dispute oould be narrowed down to the question of pay, and other important demands were withdrawn, particularly the learner, clause. In dtoing go, they were well aware that they were the only board in New Zealand that were likely to do this, and would in consequence be subjected to a good deal of hostile criticism. I need ihiardly say that before deciding upon their line of action, tha • board had carefully. considered the question in , all its'bearings, and the matter that was almost always foremost in the minda of the member® of the board was the probable consequence of even the temporary closing down _of the works to the farmers of this district, as it must be remembered that anything affecting the I farming interests affects all other in- , terests. Looking back on the past, and reviewing all the circumstances, your board feels that the right thing was dons, and that they have noth-, ing to regret. And .I may say that somie time back we received an offer from the mea to make a fresh agreement before next season, at 27s 6d per hundred. A big factor in this matter, which should be mentioned, and which had a bearing on the case,, are the good relations that are almost always existing between the employees of this company and its management. This is shown by the fact. that during the past two yearn of labour unrest everywhere, this company has come through without trouble. Fortunately we have always had reasonable mem to deal with, ancl in this respect it would be impossible to pay too high a tribute to the employees wham we have had working far us, because it should also be remembered that the standard of work demanded by this company is on a very much, higher level than that asked for.in other parts of the Dornin."