A GATEWAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 303, 22 December 1943, Page 6

A GATEWAY

WESTFIELD WORKS

POSITION IN INDUSTRY

"There seems to be a lot of feeling on the part of the public and employers because we are directing employees to Westfield," said Mr. W. A. Leggett, representing the manpower officer, at a sitting of the Auckland Industrial Appeal Committee this morning when the Lion Clothing Co., Ltd., appealed against the direction of L. V. Byatt, a cutter, to employment'at Westfield Freezing Co., Ltd. Mr. Leggett said that Westfield did not represent a company. It represented a gateway through which, with the exception of wool, the primary production of the country must pass. "We owe it to the farmer for the work he put in," he added, "to see that his cattle is dealt with so that it does not go off its prime quality, so that work is not held up, and so that there is no bottleneck in the industry. When it is realised that Westfield represents the last phase of the farmer's effort, perhaps employers and proprietors of secondary industries will realise we are in a difficult position. If that place is not kept going the farmer cannot plan his seasonal requirements. Westfield is just a general term for a company which supplies a' ready means for farmers' stock reaching its destination overseas." Mr. F. C. Olsen, manager of the appellant company, said he appreciated the position in regard to the supply of food. He. maintained, however, that clothing was just as essential to the soldiers, and said that 75 per cent of the work of his firm was for military purposes. The committee reserved its decision.