NOT SETTLED

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1942, Page 4

NOT SETTLED

MEAT DISPUTE 1700 Still Out P.A. AUCKLAND, March 19. There was a confused position in the freezing industry to-day. Although the majority of the men who decided yesterday to resume wont, presented themselves this morning for re-emp> ! '-yment, only a section war engaged. At the Westfield Company’s works, the men. were informed that owing to the dislocation caused to all departments, and the fact that new arrangements had to be made regarding stock, it was impossible to employ' aii the men immediately. 'The men said chat they would not accept engagement until, all were employed. None was engaged. Few regular employees are working. This was the position at 10 o’clock, when a meeting was in progress. The strike workers’ meeting continued until late in the forenoon, when it was adjourned to the Trades Hall at 2 p.m. There was little change in the situation at noon. When Hellaby’s men reported, they were informed no stock was available for killing, and owing to the general dislocation, and as other volunteer labour had been engaged, only a limited number of former employees could be re-engaged immediately. The men held a' meeting, and later walked off the job. It was learned later that the men decided that unless all were engaged, none would accept employment. At Hellaby’s works, cannery girls are still working normally. There is no stock to kill, all having been disposed of. The management has made a further appeal for men for all departments. The only works approaching normal were Southdown, King’s Wharf, and export wharf plants of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company. Owing to the fact that large quantities of stock were available at Southdown, there was work for all. The Westfield works are carrying on with the skeleton teams which worked yesterday, and with volunteers. Further volunteers arriving were employed. Owing to the impression that the strike was practically settled yesterday, many farmers and others willing to work, refrained from offering their services. The management of the Westfield Freezing Company and Hellaby’s are advertising to-day for men willing to assist.

WELLINGTON, March 19

“The men who answered the nation’s call cannot be upon as blacklegs, but as unionists and patriots, and will get every help and assistance to which they are entitled.” This was the answer by the Minister of. Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) when asked what was being done for the men who volunteered for duty at the freezing works, now that the staffs had returned. LATER. Hopes that work would be resumed in all the freezing works in Westfield district to-day were not realised. Fresh developments at the establishment of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., and Westfield Freezing Company, Ltd., resulted in more than 1,700 employees remaining on strike. There was no trouble at the Southdown works, and at the King’s Wharf cool stores of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Limited. The 600 men engaged there commenced work in the morning and continued without interruption throughout the day.