FREEZING WORKERS' DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 12, 15 January 1937, Page 10

FREEZING WORKERS' DISPUTE

MINISTER TO MEET MEN

' The >G A'ci-nment is taking immediate action in connection with the freezing workers' dispute in the Auckland Province. A special meeting of Cabinet was held this morning to consider the situation, and the of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) was instructed to proceed to Auckland immediately. Had the weather been ' favourable he would have left by air this morning, but he is now • leaving bw this afternoon's express. . .. „ "CaHinet has been conversant with every move in the dispute, said Mr.lXrmstrong to a "Post" representative today, and I have been instflucted to proceed to Auckland to meet the men and take what stepfe are deemed necessary. The course which Iwi a op will depend almost entirely on eventualities, but, if a certain course of action fe taken, we know just exactly what we are going to do. Yesteqday, Mr. Armstrong made an appeal to the men to reside work, and teent the. following telegram to Mr. W. Sill, secretary of the Auckland Freezing Workers' Union.

Notwithstanding that neither on this occasion nor on occasion before Christmas did you give me or my Department opportunity of endeavouring to arrange settlement, I have Seen doing my best with employers on behalt of men eve* since you met them on the fifth instant, and have been working in conjunction with Mr. L. Glover. Secured a conference with executive of freezing companies which was held; in my office yesterday, and feel sure could have effected Satisfactory settlement but altitude taken up by you and a section of workers in Auckland district has given it a serioils setback. Government is of opinion that in tins small couptry there is only room for one Government and if you ha-we decided upon a showdown, we might not be long in deciding just who is to govern. I have been doing my best on your behalf and if you have not sufficient confidence fin me and the Government to give us a chance, {hen negotiations between the employers and mysell are off, and the» fight is on. Strongly urge men to rer.ume work in the} meantime if they wish our conference with employers toJ continue. • Although the- wages and conditions of the workers are the same throughout the Dominion, there has been no trouble m any works outside the Auckland province. _In other districts the men have awaited the outcome of the Minister's efforts.