Striking Slaughtermen To be Prosecuted

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 4

Striking Slaughtermen To be Prosecuted

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7.

Instructions have been issued for the prosecution of 33 slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Sheepf a oners’ Cooperative Co. Ltd., who have been on strike since Tuesday afternoon. In a statement this evening the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) said that the Government had decided to take immediate action against the slaughtermen concerned and summonses would be issued forthwith.

"I regret very much the attitude of the slaughtermen, many of whom are very excellent workers,” said Mr. Webb. "It is a pity that the great work they have done should be marred by the action of a few. Farmers have been getting their lambs ready over the year and tho dry weather will cause them to fall back. Our kith and kin at Home are badly in need of meat Bnd no effort should be spared to provide the maximum amount of food for those who are working hard, suffering much, and fighting all over the world for our libertv and freedom.” continued Mr. Webb.

"I would appeal at this late hour to the slaughtermen to resume work and 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 work. Then wc are prepared to listen to any grievance they

have got.” The slaughtermen decided this afternoon to remain on strike until Monday morning and also to ask the Minister of Labour to come to Christchurch to help settle the strike. Before the slaughtermen’s meeting members of the Kuiapoi branch of the North Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union held a meeting at the works in the morning and in a secret ballot decided by 75 votes to 50 to resume work at 1 p.m. Another meeting of all workers is to be held at the works on Monday morning.

Tho meeting this morning was addressed by the secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr. H. G. Kilpatrick) who 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 t he matter in dispute to a competent tribunal for settlement. Mr. Kilpatrick said that the resolution was not accepted immediately. During a lengthy discussion the Minister of Labour was communicated with and he said that tho tribunal would be set up immediately and the men given an opportunity to choose their own representatives for it. When the Minister’s assurance was convoyed to the men a secret ballot was taken on the question of resuming w-ork on that basis. That was at 10.45 a.m., and as some of the men did not liavo their lunches with them and as little stock could have been killed between that time and noon it was decided to resume work at oue o’clock.

Representatives of the National Service and Labour Departments were present at the meeting in the morning but took no part in the proceedings. The officer in charge of the Labour Department (Mr. R. T. Bailey) said this evening that the cases against the slaughtermen would be set down for the first available date that could bo arranged with the Magistrate’s Court. The slaughtermen are to be prosecuted under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Section 123 provides that when a strike takes place in any industry every worker who is or becomes a party to the strike and who is at the commencement of the strike bound by any award or industrial agreement affecting that industry shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO.