NO VOTES CAST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 12

NO VOTES CAST.

SECRET BALLOT FIASCO. FREEZING AVORKS DISPUTE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 14. As a protest against the manner in which tlie dispute is alleged to have been handled officially, none of the slaughtermen at the Westfield Freezing AA r orks participated in the secret ballot arranged to be conducted at the works to-day. Although two officials of the Labour Department were in attendance at a specially-arranged polling booth, not a single vote was recorded by the 187 men concerned in the dispute. Steps to held a secret ballot on the dispute between members of the Auckland Abattoir Assistants and Freezing Works Employees’ Union and the AA’estfield Freezing Company, were taken under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1914. The Act provides that a secret ballot be taken on a protest to strike when no settlement has been reached in a dispute between employees and employers. Notice of intention to hold to-day’s ballot was given by the deputy-registrar under the Act on Tuesday The actual issues of the dispute have not been disclosed, but the slaughtermen at the \A 7 estfield works have been dissatisfied Avith their wages and conditions of employment since November. On November 10 the men held a stopAvork meeting over differences Avith the management of tho company in regard to overtime. A settlement Avas reached on NoA'ember 12, but it is stated that the Avages and conditions on the slaughtering floors have repeatedly been the subject of grievances by the men since that date. Representatives of the men and the management have had several conversations recently, but a deadlock ensued. An application to the Minister of Labour that he take action under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, Avas filed by the Union. The Act provides that the Minister shall, on receipt of such notice, either refer the matter to the Conciliation Commissioner to inquire into and endeavour to effect a settlement of the dispute Avith poAver to summon a conference of the parties to such dispute,

or refer the matter for investigation to a labour dispute committee. Such committee, it is stipulated in the Act, shall consist of not less than three or more than seven members as determined by the Minister. An equal number of members shall be appointed to represent the workers ana employers respectively. It is further provided that a secret ballot shall he taken of the workers concerned if a settlement of tho dispute i§ not arrived at within 14 days from the date of notice of the dispute to the Minister. It is stated that the Minister’s decision to proceed with the ballot surprised the men. It is claimed that this step was premajture, and that other alternative mandatory courses were open to the Minister and should have been followed prior to conducting a ballot. The men’s action in abstaining from voting is said to be a mark of their disapproval. It is understood that as a result of the men’s refusal to exercise their right to vote, the application filed on their behalf automatically lapses. When the matter was referred to Mr IV. E. Sill, secretary to the union, he declined to discuss it.