NORMAL KILLING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 159, 17 April 1930, Page 6

NORMAL KILLING

THE FREEZING WORKS.

CONDITIONS IN FINEGAND

ALL QUIET AT BURNSIDE. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Last night's shift at the Finegand freezing works (Balclutha) put through 400 sheep in six hours. The total was ,2000 for two shifts. ' All is quiet at Burnside T

A MENACE TO INDUSTRY.

THE PROPAGANDA COMMITTEE

DUNEDIN, This Day

"We have known of the existence of the Propaganda Committee for several years. It has been the cause of most'troubles," stated a leader in the freezing industry, commenting on the report of violence in. Canterbury. Communists here, said the speaker, had not used violence, but had worked quietly. This committee was a menace in the freezing, coal-mining and shipping industries. Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P.. denies the report of an attack on him by Wellington Communists. He had opposed their methods, but they had never resorted to violence.

UNION AND COMPANIES.

REVIEW OF NEGOTIATIONS

(Special to the "Guardian.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

A truce has been arranged in connection with the trouble that developed at. the freezing works in Canterbury, and yesterday work was being carried on normally at all the factories. In a statement yesterday, Mr H. C. Revell (secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Workers' Union) said that on Tuesday the executive of the Union held, a long meeting to discuss the whole position, and as a result of a deputation waiting on the representatives of the South Island Freezing Companies' Association, normal conditions had been resumed at the works. It would be remembered, said Mr Revell, that a statement had been made to the effect that the fight had been started with the object of preventing the formation of a bogus union at the Balclutha works. It was alleged that the formation of this new union was being assisted by the company, and that the company had made it a. condition that all workers at that factory should be members of the new union.

"The formation of a bogus union," Mr Revell added, "is a very serious thing in a big organisation, and is taken as'a direct challenge to the organisation involved. The Canterbury executive therefore considered it necessary to obtain from the companies a statement as to their attitude in that connection.

. "With that object in view a deputation representing the executive of the union interviewed representatives of the South Island Freezing Companies' Association and obtained from them an official statement as to what was the attitude of the South. Otago Freezing Company toward the formation of the new union.

"A written reply lias now been received from the secretary of the association stating that jt had communicated with the South Otago Freezing Company, Ltd., which had stated that it was not assisting the inauguration of •s, new union. The letter further states that the company is not identified with the new union in any way, and that membership of that union is not made a condition of employment at the Balclutha works. "In view of this assurance, nesrotiations have been commenced with a view to the reinstatement of the men in their various positions in the shed in question. "For the time being things are normal in Canterbury, but further negotiations are being carried on with a view to the reinstatement of the men who have left the Balclutha works, and an official of the South Island Freezing Companies' Association has gone to Balclutha for the purpose of seeing to what extent the old hands can be reemployed, particularly the local men." It has been reported throughout the Canterbury district, said Mr Revell, that by their inactivity here the men were excusing the employers in forming a new union in South Otago. This had been .used by the "Propaganda Committee" as an argument in stirring up trouble, special emphasis having been laid oh the alleged relationship of the company toward the new Pinion.

IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU, April 16

No trouble was experienced at either Smithfield or Pareora freezing vrorks to-d_ay. The slaughtermen began at 8 a.m. and killed at the normal rate. The companies are hopeful that there will not be a recurrence of the trouble.