REFUSAL OF PERMITS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 147, 1 April 1944, Page 2

REFUSAL OF PERMITS.

FREEZING WORKERS’ DEMANDS. “NO DISCRIMINATION CAN BE MADE.” WELLINGTON, March 31. The report, from Invercargill that men employed at the Makare.wa freezing works in Southland had resumed work on receiving an assurance that they would be given railway permits to travel at Easter was denied to day by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. R. Semple). The Minister said the position was that an official of the Labour Department had informed workers that, if work were resumed forthwith, the men’s request for travel permits would be placed before the Government for consideration, but no assurance had been given.

The Minister said he had given the matter full consideration and had come to the conclusion that no discrimination could be made as between freezing workers and other sections of workers throughout the Dominion. Similar requests for travel permits had been received from bodies of workers and other sections of the community who desired to travel to their homes at Easter. It was impossible, and indeed improper, to single out freezing workers for special treatment. The situation on the railways due to shortage of coal was most serious and no departure from the present travel restrictions could be granted.