FREEZING WORKERS RESUME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 8

FREEZING WORKERS RESUME

J The announcement that the freezI ing works employees have decided to resume work this morning will be I received with a profound sense of relief by the whole community. Following go-slow tactics for which they had been paid off, the men adopted their stay-in campaign on Thursday afternoon, and thus three days' make of butter has accumulated in the dairy factories, most of which will have little more storage space. Thus, had despatch to the freezing works' stores been further delayed, heavy losses for the dairy industry would have begun to pile up. It would not have taken many days to impose an almost crippling loss on some farmers. Though not facing so desperate a situation, the graziers with fat stock ready for killing could not have escaped, for interruption of movement from farm to works at this time of the year has its inevitable penalties. Transport and shipping services, already affected, would have shared the heavy burden, : and indirectly every person in the whole community would have experienced some evil consequences. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who carried full authority of Cabinet, was successful in his efforts during a strenuous day in negotiating for a resumption of work without having to threaten the obvious altei'native. The understanding is that a conference of employers, workers and Government representatives is to be held this week to consider the grievances which have arisen out of certain details of the award of the Arbitration Court. Negotiations had been shaping in that direction before the dispute reached its extreme form. It is the general hope that a satisfactory conclusion will be arrived at. Apart from the immediate aim, however, there is, of course, a wide problem for the Government in the matter of awards generallv. The system must be founded upon agreement of both parties to abide by the decision, and if that principle is disturbed serious difficulties will arise.