FREEZING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24505, 14 January 1941, Page 6

FREEZING INDUSTRY

NORTH CANTERBURY WORKS QUESTION OF OVERTIME BALLOT IN PROGRESS (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 13. Workers in the four freezing works near Christchurch are now taking a ballot to decide whether they should work overtime to the extent of one hour daily to prevent any congestion in the handling of stock for killing during the present season The ballot was to have been completed today, but a misunderstanding arose, and it cannot now be finished till to-mor-row. The situation was discussed ai a cotiterence of representatives of the employers and workers on Saturday evening which was presided over by the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr S. Ritchie, who issued the following report of the proceedings tn the ores? this evening: ‘‘At the request ot ihe Minister ot Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, representatives of the workers from the four freezing works operating in the city area Belfast (2), Kaiapoi, and Islington met the employers’ representatives on Saturday evening to discuss the overcoming of any delay that might occur in the killing and handling of this season’s stock There was a genera] discussion and it was decided that a vote should be taken on Monday at each of the works to find out whether the men would agree to work overtime for one hour per day The position is that through a misunderstanding the ballot has not been completed, and no decision therefore has been arrived at.” It is expected that finality will be reached In the discussions to-morrow

EMPLOYEES AT IMLAY

EXTRA HOUR REFUSED (Per United Press Association) WANGANUI, Jan. 13. At a mass meeting held to-day the slaughtermen employed at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s works at Imlay rescinded their previous decision to work an extra hour daily. Last week the company asked that the men should start work an hour earlier to cope with the large number of fat lambs being sent to the Imlay works. This was agreed to, a ballot taken in the various departments resulting in favour of working the extra hour. The slaughtermen, however, asked that the matter should be referred back to a mass meeting of employees. This was done at today’s meeting. The slaughtermen contended that many of the men could not stand the strain of the extra hour, which would mean working nine hours a day.