CHRISTCHURCH AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 11, 14 January 1941, Page 13

CHRISTCHURCH AREA

BALLOT IN PROGRESS

(By Telegraph—Jfress Association.t CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Workers in the four freezing works near Christchurch are now taking a ballot to decide whether they should work overtime to; the extent of one I hour-daily to prevent any. congestion in handling stock for killing during the present season. The ballot was to have been completed today but a misunderstanding arose and it cannot now be finished till tomorrow. The situation was discussed at a conference of representatives of employers and workers on Saturday evening presided over by the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. S. Ritchie, who issued the following report of the proceedings this evening:— "At the request of the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, representatives of the workers from the four freezing works operating in the city area, Belfast, Islington, and the two at Kaiapoi, met the employers' representatives on1 Saturday evening to discuss overcoming any delay that might occur in killing and handling this season's stock. "There was a general discussion and it was decided that a vote be taken on Monday at each of the works to find whether the men would agree to work overtime for one hour per day. The position is that through a misunderstanding the ballot has not been completed and no decision, therefore, has been arrived at." It is expected that finality will be reached in the discussions tomorrow.