WORK RESUMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 8

WORK RESUMED

THE WESTFIELD DISPUTE DISCUSSION OF CLAIMS REFERRED TO MINISTER The slaughtermen at the Westfield freezing works decided after lengthy negotiations and discussion yesterday to refer their -wages dispute to the Minister of Labour for consideration under the Labour Disputes Investigations Act, 1913, and pending a hearing of the case to continue at work. There was a stoppage of work on Wednesday.. A meeting of the men was held shortly before eight o'clock yesterday morning, when operations for the day were due to commence. Discussions continued until shortly after 10 o'clock, when a deputation was appointed to confer with the works management. The men decided to resume work pending the result of the conference, and the killing and dressing of stock continued until the lunch interval at noon. A further meeting was then held to discuss the report of the deputation, which had been unable to reach agreement with the management on the points at issue. Various proposals were discussed by the slaughtermen and the meeting lasted until about 2.30 p.m. Difficulty was found in securing unanimity among the men on account of the various grades of work and remuneration. It was ultimately decided to endeavour to have representatives of the employers and the men brought together under the machinery laid down in the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. The slaughtermen resumed work shortly before three o'clock.