Stoppages hit meat exports

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32553, 12 March 1971, Page 1

Stoppages hit meat exports

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 11.

Wellington will face more industrial disruption tomorrow over the Stabilisation of Remuneration Bill.

The waterfront will be idle for the fourth day in succession when stevedoring foremen hold a one-day stoppage

in protest against the bill. Already the stoppages on the waterfront were seriously affecting the export of meat, the manager of the Meat Board (Mr H. C. M. Douglas) said today. “Two freezing works may have to close soon because their cool stores are full, and other works are restricting their kill," he said.

Mr Douglas said the situation was having severe cumulative effects, reaching right back to farmers.

The Majestic is due to sail from Wellington, without 200 tons of meat destined for Greece and the Black Sea. The Akaroa will sail on Saturday without 1300 tons of meat for London. . “The effects have also caused delays to the new Timaru-Bluff service linking with United Kingdom ports. A reprogramming of several vessels is being considered because- of loss of time,” he said.

The flow of meat from New Zealand was carefully planned, and any major disruption at a key port such as Wellington could have widespread, damaging effects. Wellington bars are likely to be closed tomorrow after a stop-work meeting of hotel workers.

Watersiders, drivers and seamen in the- Wellington area all went home after stop-work meetings this morning. The Wellington

branch of the Railway Tradesmen's Association also held a stop-work meeting tonight, but rail services were not seriously disrupted. Boilermakers at the Kaiwharawhara branch of William Cable, Ltd, also stopped work today after similar action on Monday by boilermakers at the firm’s Gracefield branch.