Sunday Work Resumed on Wharves

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 4, 6 January 1941, Page 6

Sunday Work Resumed on Wharves

MORE MEN OFFER THAN REQUIRED Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. For the first Sunday since the dispute began in the middle of December the cold stores at the Export Wharf aud King’s Wharf worked to-day. The call mado by the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Limited, for men to replace approximately 140 chamberhands who were dismissed on Friday after rofusing Sunday work was promptly answered and in addition to the 240 men engaged at the week-end at ioast as many more offered their services and left their names should they be required in future. * “We have all the men we can possibly use to-day,” said Mr. A. G. Brown, general manager of the com pauy. “Tho new men arc shaping very well indeed. On Saturday they took into store produce that had accumulated and more that had been received by rail and coastal ship, and to-day they loaded out produce for overseas.” Mr. Brown said a very small number of the men dismissed on Friday hud offered to work as well, and although it had been expected that some of them on Saturday night would have founu the work unsuitable they all reported for work to-day and others came with them. None of the new men had yet applied for membership of the union. Mr. Brown added that there was a limited period of grace and they would apply within the prescribed time. The statement that non-members of the Auckland Freezing Workers’ Union who had accepted employment with the company following the dismissal of the chamberhands would not be admitted to the union whether or not they w’ished to join was made by the secretary (Mr. W. E. Sill). He made the statement m reply to a question as to whether the men concerned would bo required to join tho union. Mr. Sill declined to say whether any meeting of the executive of the union or the union as a whole was contemplated following the dismissal of tho chamberhands. He added that he was unable to say whether other sections of the union were affected.