CALLING OFF THE SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3768, 1 March 1913, Page 7

CALLING OFF THE SLAUGHTERMEN’S STRIKE.

WHAT WILL THE COMPANIES DO ? THE POSITION IN HAWKE’S BAY [PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) HASTINGS, Feb. 28. “Local slaughtermen will follow the course taken by strikers in the South and return to work,” was the opinion expressed by one of the strikers today. Nothing definite has been decided yet. Tlie line of action to be pursued cannot be fixed until the men hold a meeting. Many of the strikers have left the district and some trouble would bo experienced in getting them together, • but even should the ex-slauglitermen agree to resume work it 'is possible that a good many will be imable to obtain hooks at Tomoana. For instance, there is a full board of 35 butchers. The number of sheep put through by them for one day has been as high as 2500, and the men are daily becoming more efficient with the knife, Consequently, in view of tlie statement made at the beginning of the strike that the firm would protect the men who came to their assistance as free laborers, it is unlikely that strikers will be able to go back if they wish to. Thirty-five men went out on strike at Tomoana, and ten have since returned to work. A few of the others are still about town marking time. Some have taken up various occupations and several have left for other parts of the Don huon. At the Pakipm-.t works there are 20 free laborers on the board, and they put through between 900 and 1000 sheep daily. When the ex-slaughter-men sheathed their knives there were 28 killing. The firm, in the event of the strikers deciding to abandon the strike, does not intend taking them back at the expense of the men who are at present manning the hoards and who came to their assistance when the strike commenced. The services of the free labo '*rs will be retained and should the; be any hooks to spare tlie strikers will be allowed to resume work on the terms and conditions offered by the companies. Five more free laborers are expected at 1 Pakipaki, and 'tnere will then be a total board of 25, leaving only three hooks unfilled. A representative of the North British Company stated that the Company would have nothing whatever to do with ex-slaughtermen, even if they decided to abandon the strike. There were more than sufficient free laborers offering to occupy the boards, and the tally was better than before the strike. The Company was satisfied with the work,at present being done.

AFFAIRS IN CISBORNE. MEN TO APPROACH THE COMPANIES. The local Slaughtermen’s Union, it is understood, has “backed down,” in that it has decided to ask for reinstatement on the latest offer made by the freezing companies (27s 6d per hundred sheep, etc.;. Last evening, the managers of both works informed a “Times” reporter that the Union had not yet advised them of the reported decision. It is not considered likely that the companies will, obey the request, although the “strike” slaughtermen, or some of them, will be given positions at the boards, as they automatically offer. The “free labor” workers are giving satisfaction locally.