SLAUGHTERMEN STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 7

SLAUGHTERMEN STRIKE

KAIAPOI FREEZING WORKS

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. Slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of thje North Canterbury Sheepfarmers' Co-operative Company, Limited, went on strike at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and did not resume work today. A general meeting of all the company's workers was held this morning, and the other departments, with the exception of the 35 slaughtermen concerned, started work as usual. Later, there was a conference between representatives of the strikers and the National Service and Labour Departments. The dispute at the works was caused by the direction of a freezing worker in the Army to employment at the works. This man was released from military service after a survey of the freezing industry by the National Service Department, and was in camp when the killing season opened. When he reported to the works, it was found that there was no vacancy, as the position he occupied previously was filled by a man who had returned after military service overseas. The man directed to the works was released for employment in the freezing- industry only, and normally. would return to the Army unless directed elsewhere.

The general manager of the company, Mr. N. S. Wyber, said today that the workers had advised him that a meeting would be held at the works at 8 o'clock on Thursday to consider the position. . The strike had arisen over staffiing of the works, and the matter was in the hands of the National Service and Labour Departments. Meanwhile. 3000 lambs were waiting to be killed. ..■ .;

The secretary of the Freezing Workers' Union, Mr. H. G. Kilpatrick, said that officially he knew nothing about the strike, as , the matter had not been referred to him by the works branch of the union.- Till the matter had been referred, to him and he knew the men's point of view, he felt that he-should—not--comment.-- -