TO BE PROSECUTED

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1944, Page 6

TO BE PROSECUTED

KAIAPOI STRIKERS Slaughtermen’s Refusal TO ABIDE BY SECRET BALLOT VOTE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. Workers at the North Canterbury Sheep Farmers’ Co-operative Company’s Works, Kaiapoi, decided to resume work at one o’clock to-day, after a secret ballot on the issue, the voting being 75 for resumption and 50 against. — ’ This was stated by the secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union, Mr. H. G. Kilpatrick who went to the works this morning, at the request of the men. The meeting was held just after eight o’clock, when he submitted a resolution in line with the Union Executive’s policy that thev resume work immediately, and refer the matter in dispute to a competent tribunal for settlement. The resolution was not accepted immediately, said Mr. Kilpatrick. A lengthv discussion took place during which contact was made with the Minister of Labour at Wellington. The Minister gave*an assurance that a tribunal would be set up .immediately, and the men were given the opportunity to choose their own. representatives for it. Strike Continued by the slaughtermen. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. Thirty three slaughtermen on strike at the Kaiapoi Meat Works of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Coop Coy, decided this afternoon, to remain on strike until Monday morning. and also decided to ask the Minister of Labour to come to Christchurch in order to help to settle the strike. Before' the slaughtermen’s meeting. the members of the Kaiapoi Branch of the North Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union held a meeting at the works in the morning and, in a secret ballot, they deci, led by 75 votes to 50 to resume work at 1 p.m. The meeting this morning was addressed by the secre-; rarv of the Freezing Workers’ Union. Mr H. G. Kilpatrick, who 1 went to the works at the request of the men. He submitted to the men a resolution in line with the Union Executive’s policy that they resume work immediately, and refer the 'matter in dispute to a competent tribunal for settlement The secret ballot was taken on the question of resuming work on that basis. that was at 10.45 a.m., and as some of the men did not have their lunches with them, and as little stock could have been killed between that time ana noon, it waq decided to resume woik at one o’clock. ~ ■ Representatives of the National Service and Labour Departments were present at the meeting m tne mornin- but took no part pn the proceedings. . • ! The Prosecutions i. HON. P.O. WEBB’S (' STATEMENT. i CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. ■ Instructions have been issued for the prosecution of 33 slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of the Nortn Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-opera-tive Coy. Ltd., who have been on strike since Tuesday afternoon. In a statement this evening, tne Minister of Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb, said that the Government had decided to take immediate action against the slaughtermen concerneu, and summonses would be ( - issuea forthwith. ( , “1 regret very much the (attitude of the slaughtermen, many of whom are very excellent workers,’f said Mr. Webb. “It is a pity that the great work they have done should be marred by the action of a few. Fa,irm.ers have been setting - lambs Tetuiy over the year, and dry weather WiH cause them to fall back j ' “Our kith and kin at Home arc badlv in need of meat, and no effottt should be spared to provide th| maximum amount, of food for Laos® who are working hard, sufferings much, and fighting all over the worla) for our liberty and freedom,” con-, tinued Mr. Webb. “I would appeal, at this late hour, to the slaughtermen to resume work, and to allow

their dispute to be ventilated in a constitutional manner. In the meantime, the Government has decided to take immediate action against the slaughtermen concerned, and summonses will be issued forthwith. The first essential is worn. Then we are prepared to listen to aiw grievance they have got.” The officer in charge of the Labour Department, Mr. R. T. Bailey, said this evening that cases against the slaughtermen would be set down for the first available date that could be arranged with the Magistrate’s Court. . The slaughtermen are to be prosecuted under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, Section 123. This section provides that, when a strike takes place in any industry every worker who is, or becomes, a ■partv to the strike, and who is, at the commencement of the strike, bound ■by anv award or industrial agreement affecting that industry, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds. WORKERS’ 'MEETING. CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. 7. A meeting of all workers is to be held at the works of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-op Coy, on (Monday morning. I