TROUBLE IN A PORK SHOP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15055, 26 July 1912, Page 8

TROUBLE IN A PORK SHOP.

ON "STRIKE a FOR AN; HOUR.

EMPLOYEES OBJECT;, TO BE, ...'*".- .WATCHED,

Something in the nature of a strike occurred -yesterday on the premises of Messrs. Fischer Bros., Limited, which are carried on as a small-goods pork shop and restaurant, and the employees to the number of about twelve refused to work for about an hour. , Mrs. Fischer 'explained to a Herald representative the circumstances leading up to the "strike." She said that the employees had no grievance whatever against Mr. Fischer, the managing director, who is in charge of the business. On tho contrary, the staff worked most amicably with Mr. Fischer. The trouble arose, she said, owing to the action of one of the directors of the firm. On Wednesday morning this director, who was anxious to sever his connection with the firm, sent a man to the premises to watch the conduct of the business on his" behalf. Nothing drastic was done on that day, although the employees showed signs of rcstiveness at what they considered to be a-slight on their characters. The watcher appeared j again yesterday, and the employees became so indignant that they walked out jof the shop,at. 12.30 p\m.,: and refused to [ continue work unless the surveillance ceased. '

Mrs, Fischer states that prior the men' ceasing work '~ she ordered the watcher out, but ho absolutely refused to go, although slid explained that he had no right to be there. After the refusal of the men to work, legal advice was sought, and the solicitor decided that the'director had no authority to appoint a man to watch the conduct, of the business. After the men had been out for about an hour the watcher left, and the men then resumed their work. In conclusion, Mrs. Fischer stated that the shares held in the company by - tho director referred to would be bought out by Mr. Fischer to-day.

The director concerned in the trouble was afterwards approached by a HerAld representative. ' All I can say at present,'' he said, " is that all arrangements were made between the managing director of the company and the chairman of direc : tors, that a man should be appointed to carry out the duties of shopwalker in the establishment." >

The employees who refused to work are members of the Pork Butchers' Lidustrial Union of Employees. One of the employees states that the union made application for registration under the Arbitration Act, but notice of registration has not yet been received.