ORDERED TO RESUME

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 4

ORDERED TO RESUME

Meat Works Strikers

LEADERS TO BE PROSECUTED.

P.A. WELLINGTON, March 15. Action is being taken under the National Service Emergency Regulations to terminate the stoppage of work at the Westfield works of R. and W. Hellaby, orders having been issued to the men to resume work immediately. This has been done by the Manpower Officer in Auckland, to whom Hon. R. Semple delegated his authority under the regulations.

Hon. P. C. Webb, in an interview, to-night, said that he had conferred w-xth Mr Semple and had informed him of the seriousness of the situation. The men were engaged in an essential industry, and Mr Semple had given instructions that they be ordered to resume work. “The war situation is such that any interference with production will be resisted by the Government to the full,” said Mr Webb. “There is only one plank in our policy now, and that is to win the war. There are a few who feel that they can use the law and abuse it at the same time. That cannot be allowed. Anybody who interferes with production, whether employer or employee, :s helping our enemies in our struggle for freedom and democracy.”

Mr Webb said that summonses were being issued against the men responsible for the stoppage of work.

LYTTELTON WATERSIDE DISPUTE.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 14.

As a result of waterside workers refusing to handle over-weight sacks at Lyttelton yesterday, between 30 and 40 trucks of wheat for the North Isi'and had to be removed from the wharf to • make wav for trucks of general cargo which the w'atersiders were prepared to load. The men disputed the weight of jome of the bags which, according to regulations, should not exceed 203 pounds, bag included. A complaint was made by the men to the union authorities, with the request that the bags should be weighed. On a check being made it was discovered that the weight of the bags ranged from 203 pounds to 224 pounds. On the other hand, it was plain that the truck loads were in some cases under the average weight.

During the evening further wheat was loaded, but the weight ot the bags was periodically checked.

No decision was reached after a conference between the Waterfront Controller (Mr. H. A, Brockett), and the National President of the Waterside Workers‘(Mr. J. Flood), but this .r.orning the men resumed loading wheat.