FREEZING WORKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1945, Page 2

FREEZING WORKS

SOUTHLAND' MEN IDLE

INVERCARGILL, March 21.

No killing was done at the Makarewa freezing works to-day. It is understood that the reason for the stoppage was an Auckland report, which the slaughtermen contended meant that the agreement leached in January on retrospective payment of wage increases was not now operative. A resolution was carried that telegrams be sent to officials of the Freezing Workers’ Federation asking' for confirmation about the retrospective agreement made in January between representatives of the Government and federation officials, and that no work be done until replies had been received. ’ My. D. Cody, president of the 'Freezing Workers’ Federation, who is I at present in Wellington, assured the “Southland Times” to-night that the I restrospective agreement is still in j force. He added that the fact that the 'Arbitration Court had made a proI nouncement did not affect the agree- ■ ment, which provided for the retrospective payment of any wage increases from January 1. With this assurance it is believed that work will be resumed at Makarewa in the morning. Makarewa slaughtermen were the only ones in the province who stopped killing. The general manager of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, Mr. A. Derbie, said to-day’ that he had been informed that the workers had no grudge against the company. About 5000 sheep and lambs should have been killed to-day. WORKRESUMED INVERCARGILL, March 22. Killing at Makarewa freezing 'works, was resumed this morning, ■ the men being assured the agreement I was still in force. . ' At Mataura yesterday work began at the usual time, but a meeting was held at ten o’clock ‘smoko,” work being resumed at 10.25. Another stop 1 work meeting was held after lunch but work was resumed at 2.10 p.m. Work at Mataura was as usual today. ‘