DECLARED “BLACK”

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 9

DECLARED “BLACK”

CHRISTCHURCH BAKER’S PREMISES SATURDAY BREAD-MAKING (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. The Merivale baker who began the house-to-house delivery of bread in the Merivale and St. Albans districts some months ago has been declared “black” by the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Baking Trades Union of Workers. The baker concerned, Mr F. ■C. Platt, said last evening that the action had been taken because he refused to stop Saturday baking. He had received a letter from the secretary of the branch, which had stated that “unfortunately, the branch has had to declare the bakery ‘black’,” and that if the practice of baking on Saturdays continued, all his staff would be taken, from him. Two bakers he had employed had left, ■ evidently under instructions from the branch. Mr Platt stated that he had no intention of stopping the baking of bread on Saturdays. At present he employed six men, all returned soldiers, and they had all decided that they would not join the branch, as they felt that Saturday baking was a necessity and should be continued. Baking was still bding carried on on six days of the week, Mr Platt said, but the men were employed on a roster, five days of the week each. There was no delivery on Tuesdays to private individuals. The men were all prepared to carry on that way.