Kaiapoi Slaughtermen Each Fined £5

Northern Advocate, 19 January 1944, Page 2

Kaiapoi Slaughtermen Each Fined £5

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. “That the action of the men in striking is rather hitting at the fundamentals of unionism and undermining the confidence of the public is a matter for regret,” said Mr £. C. Levvey, S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court when 32 slaughtermen from a freezing works at Kaiapoi were each fined £5. The Inspector of Awards (Mr R. T. Bailey) prosecuted for the Labour Department and the President of the kaiapoi branch of the Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr S. Millar) represented. the men charged.

The charge against each of the 32 men was that being a worker bound by the New Zealand (except Westland), Freezing Workers’ Award, and being in the employ of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-op. Freezing. Export and Agency Co. Ltd., he did, between January 4 and January 17 discontinue fiis employment with intent to compel or induce the said employer to terms of employment or comply with any demands made by the defendant. That the men had struck was admitted and that they had caused trouble and an upset was admitted, said the magistrate in giving his decision. The president of the branch had put facts before the court that might influence the minds of the men. The action was rather striking at the fundamentals of unionism and undermining the confidence of the public. action of th emen in strikpect. their conduct was reprehensible. In these times of stress and turmoil, it did not seem right, and in the circumstances. in view of dreadful happenings, that an arbitrary stand should be taken by any group. However, the men seemed to have suffered because of their own illtimed action. Each man would be fined £5 and the magistrate said he wished to warn the men that had the charges been laid under another Act it was just a question whether the men would have been able to retain their liberty.