PART OF WAIROA CANNERY TO CLOSE: WORKERS PROTEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 6

PART OF WAIROA CANNERY TO CLOSE: WORKERS PROTEST

(S.RA WAIROA, July 23. The Wairoa branch of the Wellington T-'reezing Workers’ Union discussed at a special meeting the closing down of the meat packing section of the preserver department at Swift's works and the dismissal of highly trained staff as a result A letter to the union from the firm disclosed its unsuccessful attempts to secure a market outside the Dominion for anj' production which is surplus to local requirements Overseas Appeals For Food

Speakers at the meeting intimated their failure to realise why this state of affairs should arise while food-pro-ducing countries were being urged to produce all manner of foodstuffs to their utmost to supplement the meagre rations of under-nourished people overseas. Questions were asked of the aid-to-Britain movement ns to why this food processing should cease when manpower, plant annd raw materials are available to continue production and shipping space is available for transport. Reference was also made to the recent campaign to assist the starving children of Europe, speakers contending that there must be an urgent need for additional foodstuffs. A resolution was carried which after referring to the shortage of food throughout Europe made a request to the Government and to the national aid-for-Britain movement to give the question their immediate consideration and to facilitate the export of this valuable food to war-ravaged countries where it was most needed. Britain Seeks Unprocessed Meat

When the report was referred to Swifts it was stated that while the company regretted closing a section of the meat cannery, which would affect up to 30 employees, it was understood that the policy of the New Zealand Government to make available all the foodstuffs possible to Britain, but apparently the British Ministry of Food preferred that meat should be shipped in unprocessed form. By receiving meat in a frozen state, the British Government would be in a position to handle it-in a manner most suitable for its requirements. Therefore, it had been found necessary to close a part of the local cannery.