No Official Announcement On Action Proposed

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 8

No Official Announcement On Action Proposed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 13. The Freezing Workers’ Association, which has been meeting in Wellington for the last two days to discuss action to have the 24 per cent, wage order incorporated in the basic award rates of pay, would make no announcement when its meeting finished this afternoon. The Wellington secretary (Mr T. F. Collerton) and the secretary of the association (Mr S. Arnst) said any announcement would have to come from the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr F. P. Walsh). When Mr Walsh’s office was telephoned a reporter was told he was indisposed. The association spokesman did confirm that the national conference that was to start at the end of the emergency meeting had been postponed. The 25 delegates were returning home.

At the start of the meeting a spokesman said the national conference would be postponed if delegates had to return to their centres to gain ratification for proposed action. It is rumoured that Individual unions are considering banning overtime and piecework from early next week. This could result in a complete stoppage within a couple of days. Earlier today Mr Walsh said that on behalf of the Freezing Workers’ Association, the Federation of Labour had invited representatives of the freezing companies to a meeting to effect an “amicable settlement of the dispute.” “I am satisfied that if the parties meet, an agreement will be arrived at which should give to the workers engaged in the freezing industry the incorporation of the 24 per cent., which has been given to all other organisations that have applied to the Court to date except the freezing industry,” said Mr Walsh. “The F.O.L. realises how essen-

tial it is to the economy of the country that we should have good relationships in the freezing industry. On this point we are sure that the representatives of the freezing industry will concur with our view.”

In making this invitation, Mr Walsh was repeating an offer to meet the employers which he made on behalf of the federation to act as a mediator in the dispute at the end of last year. This offer was subsequently refused by the employers on the grounds that the decision of the Arbitration Court was final, that both sides had presented their evidence and the result was binding on both parties.

“Test Of Arbitration System”

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 13. “The freezing companies have received an invitation from the Federation of Labour to a meeting and the freezing companies’ executive have been urgently summoned to consider the matter,” said Mr J. B. Walton, the secretary of the Freezing Companies’ Industrial Union of Employers in Wellington tonight “All concerned, including the public, must bear in mind that the present situation is the result of a decision made by the Arbitration Court which is binding on both parties,” said Mr Walton. “This is, therefore, a test of the arbitration system.”