GO-SLOW AT AUCKLAND FREEZING WORKS

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1947, Page 5

GO-SLOW AT AUCKLAND FREEZING WORKS

AUCKLAND, May 20

The wages dispute involving 25 beef butchers of the Westfield Freezing Company has spread to a “go slow” policy by such workers throughout the Auckland province, according to a letter sent to the Department of Labour, Auckland, by the management of the Westfield Freezing Company, Ltd., R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., and the Auckland Freezing Company, Ltd. These three firms have works at Westfield, Southdown, Horotiu, and Moerewa. It was stated at Moerewa, however, that no trouble had developed • there yet. According to the letter from the employers, the men’s decision reduces the slaughtering by 50 per cent, and if the policy is continued farmers will have to hold their stock for a longer period into winter, with consequent loss of weight and qualitv It is understood by the employers that the “go slow” policy is an expression of the slaughtermen’s dissatisfaction with the decision of the tribunal, with Mr S’. Ritchie, Conciliation Commissioner, as chairman, which sat recently. Probably about 100 men are now involved in the dispute. AUCKLAND, May 21. The beef butchers’ “go slow” policy has spread to the freezing works at Moerewa, Bay of Islands, the total production loss now amounting to 1200 head of cattle a day. “No settlement of the dispute is in sight”, said the managing director of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Mr H. A. Thompson, to-day.