TOBACCO SHORTAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 42, 19 February 1944, Page 6

TOBACCO SHORTAGE

WORKERS DISSATISFIED

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, this day. Dissatisfaction over tobacco supplies among employees of the Southland Frozen Meat Company's works at Mataura resulted in a stop work meeting at one o'clock yesterday afternoon. The meeting lasted for about one and a half hours, a decision being reached to await the arrival of expected consignments. Trouble had been simmering for the past six. weeks, during which meetings had been held to discuss the position. As a result of the first meeting, it was sta'ted at Mataura yesterday, the union, through the national executive, made representations to the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, and to other responsible agencies. According to a member of the nnion the position has shown little improvement, but arrangements have beeo made for the men to register, and for a sufficient supply to be forwarded to meet the needs of the workers. The influx of travelling butchers and other seasonal workers exhausted supplies, and, it is stated, was largely responsible for the present position arising. The trouble has been accentuated by a holp-up in shipping and the late arrival of a vessel.