Westfield Again

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23587, 14 March 1942, Page 6

Westfield Again

The members of the Freezing Workers’ Union who stopped work at Westfield, on Thursday, broke the law. It appears that they did so for the sufficiently trivial reason that the Hellaby works management declined them an opportunity to use the company’s premises for- a meeting with the women members of another union. The triviality of the reason emphasises the wantonness of the breach. It is emphasised, also, by the fact that this stoppage is one of a series obstinately continued by the union, in defiance of the Government’s appeals and demands and of those implicit in events. In a recent broadcast the Minister for Labour made it difficult to decide whether it was his wish to let the country' know how hard the Westfield workers work or to please them by misrepresenting their critics, who have protested that their disregard for the law and their own agreements is dangerous. He has been answered. If he intended to please them, they have told him that it was their pleasure to laugh and take no further notice, In a .late men! in Wellington yestercim , Mr ebb announced proceeding will be taken against law-breakers, and that the expulsion of those responsible for the stoppage is “ under consideration." Once again, Mr Webb expressed his conviction that the great majority of workers share his view and want to maintain full and continuous production. He has repeatedly declared that a few, and only a few, troublemakers have been responsible for interruptions on the waterfront, in the mines, and in the freezing works. If he is right, then obviously these obstructionists

can be identified and should be cleared out of the way. If he is right, it copld have been done long ago and should have been done long ago and must be done ruthlessly now. But if Mr Webb is right, then it is necessary to believe that these few, through many months and through incident after lawless incident, have somehow succeeded in retaining their influence and leading an overwhelming, reluctant majority into industrial, disorder. It is easier to believe that the problem is less simple than Mr Webb has suggested. But it is his problem. He should put his hat on and take the gloves off.