SLAUGHTERING DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24607, 15 May 1941, Page 8

SLAUGHTERING DISPUTE

BELFAST FREEZING WORKS NO SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. No work was done on the slaughtering chain at the Belfast works of Messrs Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Aust.), Ltd., and it is unlikely that' work will be resumed to-morrow. A call for fx - ee labour by the company met with no response to-day. Union delegates visited the woi'ks before the starting hom - , but no “picketing” to prevent any intending applicants to the company's advertisement for experienced slaughtermen was apparent later in the day. “We are not retracting,” the company’s spokesman said to-night. “We cannot accept the unreasonable terms of the men.” Inquiries were made at the works and also in the city by investigators for the Labour Department, and the district officer (Mr R. T. Bailey) later communicated with the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb). No statement was issued giving the attitude of the Government or the department. Mr Webb will be back in Wellington to-morrow, as he returned by to-night’s boat from Nelson after his visit to the West Coast. Work on cleaning-up was carried out normally at Belfast to-day, but unless an early settlement of the dispute is reached additional workers will become unemployed. Stock was available in the company’s paddocks for killing, and while further deliveries have been stopped, buying negotiations are proceeding by the company’s agents.