BLUNT WARNING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 13

BLUNT WARNING

RESUME OR FIGHT MINISTER DETERMINED IMPENDING " SHOWDOWN " MEETING WITH WORKERS ■[nr TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday A direct challenge to the employees of the Auckland freezing works who are engaging in the stay-in campaign is contained in the telegram which was sent yesterday by the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, to the secretary of the Auckland breezing Workers' Union, Mr. W. K. Sill. Mr. Armstrong talks bluntly of an impending "showdown'' and states that if there is to be a lack of confidence in the Government then "the tight

is on. The full text of the Minister's telegram is as follows: "Notwithstanding the fact that, neither on this occasion nor 011 the occasion before Christmas did you give me or my department an opportunity of endeavouring to, arrange a settlement, I have been doing my best with the employers on behalf of the men ever since you met them on January •> and, working in conjunction with Mr. L. Glover, secured a conference with th(> executive of the freezing companies, which was held in my office yesterday, and, I feel sure, could have effected a satisfactory settlement, but the attitude taken up by you and a section of the workers in the Auckland district has given it a serious setback. "The Government is of the opinion that in this small country there is only room for one Govment and if you have decided upon 11 showdown we might not be long in deciding just who is to govern. I have been doing mv best on your behalf, and if you have not sufficient confidence in me and the Government to give us a chance, then negotiations between the employers and myself are oil and the fight is on. "I strongly urge the men to resume work in the meantime if they wish our conference with the employers to continue." Mr. Armstrong left Wellington by the express this afternoon and will arrive at Auckland early this morning. During the day he will meet the men engaged in the dispute and he has authority from the Cabinet to take whatever steps he considers necessary to deal with the situation.

PIG SLAUGHTERMEN EARNINGS DURING YEAR STATEMENT BY SPOKESMAN A spokesman of the pig slaughtermen at the West field freezing works has denied that the figures published yesterday, showing that their particular section earned about £0 a week during December and part of January' was a* true reflection of earnings throughout the year. "Those figures were misleading." lie said, "because the average, pig slaughterman last year earned about £2OO over the year.'' Six of the men stated that on their income-tax returns thev showed earnings of £229, £220. £2lO, £219, £227 and £2lO respectively, and the fact of their not having to pav income-tax was adequate evidence that they earned nothing like £9 right through the year. "The management's statement that we earned £9 a week would mislead the public into believing that we were grumbling, in spit-e of what looks like good wages," said one of the men. "We have to take the good with the had. And how good it is can be seen on our income-tax returns."

CAMBRIDGE SUGGESTION

WORK FOR SUSTENANCE MEN "LIVELIHOOD AT STAKE" [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT J CAMBRIDGE. Friday The serious position affecting primary industries in the Waikato as a result of the stay-in tactics of employees at the Horotiu freezing works was discussed to-day by Mr. Wilfred Harbutt, chairman of directors of the Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company, who said the following telegram had been sent to the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong: "Freezer space at our factory is only sufficient to hold a further two days' make. We would appreciate your advice concerning the action we should take. As the farmers' livelihood is at stake, would you suggest sending sustenance men to unload at Horotiu."

Mr. Harbutt stated that all available storage space for butter would be occupied within two more days. Several freezing trucks could also he used, but the general demand for storage room would limit the number of these. Kventually there would be no alternative but to stop taking produce for butter manufacture. 'Hie farmers were finding it hard enough to make ends meet as a result of increased costs, without having the outlet for their produce eliminated at the flush of the season.

Mr. Harbutt said ho had suggested to the Minister of Labour that sustenance moil In' employed to unload at Horotiu. in view of the fart that, any haymaking that, had not been completed was held up owing to the weather. Men were available from the Morrin,sville ramp. Mr. Harbutt did not advocate farmers carrying out the loading and unloading themselves, as they did in 191-5. The. strikers, lie said, had 110 dispute with the farmers, but were dissatisfied with existing awards.