GOVERNMENT ACTION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21708, 15 February 1936, Page 16

GOVERNMENT ACTION

LABOUR DISAGREEMENT SETTLED

LOADING OF THE FORDSDALE

(raiss association telsosak.) Niw PLYMOUTH, February 14. Government action has settled the disagreement between the New Plymouth Wi tersiders’ Union and the Taranaki producers’ Freezing Company, Ltd., and the loading of dairy projduce on the Fordsdale at the port is how proceeding normally. On Thursay the union took exception to the employment by the company in the Moturoa cool stores of two men who had worked as volunteer labour on the licensed Australian inter-colonial freighter Gabriella last month. The men were engaged loading dairy produce from stores into railway waggons for transport to the port, ..an activity which the union countered by adopting “go-slow” tactics. , A statement was issued to-night by the chairman of directors of the freezing company, Mr L. J. Rundle. The company had carried out negotiations, Said Mr Rundle, and in addition the chairman of the Dairy Board, Mr A. J. Murdoch, had met the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) and the Minister for Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser) in discussion on the board’s behalf. • Instructions to suspend the two men to whom the Watersiders’ Union took exception 'until'.the Fordsdale had sailed, In order that the vessel might resume her normal rate of loading, were received by the company from the Ministers to-day. At the same time, an assurance was given by the Ministers that immediately the Fordsdale completed working the matter would be investigated. A stop-work meeting was held by the union, but no public statement was made. At 3 o’clock normal working was resumed, and the Fordsdale is expected to sail for Bluff on Monday, having lost one working day.