WESTFIELD DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19871, 15 February 1928, Page 10

WESTFIELD DEADLOCK.

NO CHANGE IN POSITION. men consider situation. DEFINITE DECISION TO-DAY. No material change in the dispute at - the Westfield freezing works occurred yesterday, but developments are expected to-day, when a committee, appointed" by the men with power to act, will meet to consider the situation. Following the paying-off of about 250 men on Monday, the sequel to a deadlock regarding the classification of a sheep, held by a section of the men to be a "stag," the services of a few more men, mostly boners and chamber hands, were dispensed with yesterday.. Virtually the only men who remain are the permanent hands, numbering about 30. The men involved in the dispute met at the Trades Hall last evening and the situation was debated for almost three hours without much headway being made. It was evident, however, that a strong section favoured the resumption of work under normal conditions. The meeting broke up shortly after 11 o'clock. The men's decision, according to Mr. W. E. Sill, secretary of the Butchers and Slaughtermen's Union, was to refer the matter to a committee, which has power to act in the matter. It would probably not be necessary to call tho men together again. Meanwhile the attitude of W. and R. Fletcher (N.Z.), Ltd., managing agents for the Westfield Freezing Company, owners of the works, has riot changed. While willing to re-engage the men, they are firm in the attitude that the normal « killing rate must be maintained; otherwise other arrangements for manning the works mast bo considered in view of the seriousness of the position from the farmers' point of view.