Killing Stops After Hygiene Dispute

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31582, 20 January 1968, Page 1

Killing Stops After Hygiene Dispute

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 19. Beef killing stopped in the Westfield Freezing Company, Ltd, works at Otahuhu this morning after a Department of Agriculture inspector let out the water from a tub used by the men to wash their hands and parts of their clothing.

Work stopped at about 9.20 1 a.m. Union representatives 1 and the employers sought a j dispensation from the depart- j ment to allow work to con- : tinue for the day, but at 12.50 : p,m., when no decision was ■ received, about 100 men were sent home. A department officer said in Auckland tonight that the - matter had been referred to Wellington for a decision. Mr T. P. Kelly, secretary of the Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union, said a meat inspector had pulled out the

plug from a tub which contained water used by glitters to clean off blood and waste from their hands and clothing. He said recent health regulations demanded that the gutters wash from running water. The general manager of the company (Mr J. A. Holland) confirmed there had been a dispute over hygiene regulations, but declined to give any details. He said he hoped the matter would be settled so that beef killing could resume on Monday.