WORK RESUMED

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1938, Page 7

WORK RESUMED

AT WESTFIELD WORKS Without a Ballot [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 1. As the "result of a decision reached at a mass meeting this morning, the majority of the 800 Westfield workers who have been idle since Monday, will resume work at one o’clock this afternoon. The butchers and boners will not start until to-morrow morning, since all that those resuming this afternoon are required to do is in connection with preliminary operations. Contrary to expectations, the decision was not made by secret ballot, but in open meeting. It was considered a ballot was unnecessary. The meeting lasted about half an hour, A telegram was received from the Prime Minister, expressing willingness to assist in facilitating the hearing of the dispute by constitutional means, this being received enthusiastically. Apparently the good feeling of the meeting held at the Trades Hall, had much to do with the fact that a secret ballot was not taken.

Officials of the Union • explained afterwards that had certain circumstances existed, a secret ballot might have been essential, but it so happened, not a single request was heard for it this morning. “I don’t think the atmosphere of the meeting could have been more harmonious,” said the Union secretary (Mr Sill) after the executive had reported to him on the developments. “There was no sign of any ill-feeling between the sections of workers, and although at first, a few seemed' to think a premature step was taken, the decision to resume was practically unanimous.”

The meeting rounded off with a brief session of community singing, of such songs as “Pack Up Your Troubles” and “Rainbow On The River.” The meeting also passed a resolution of continued confidence in the executive members, and . the secretary of the union.

The next step in connection with the dispute will be the lodging with the Arbitration Court Of an appeal against the decision of Mr., Gilmour, the Industrial Magistrate, on the disputed award clause, which says-that not mqre than •35 workers shall be employed on any one chain. The application will be lodged in Wellington by the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Association. The Court will probably be asked to exercise'its powers in remedying any defect which it may find to exist in the award.