FREEZING WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 4

FREEZING WORKERS

THE WESTFIELD DISPUTE SETTLEMENT REACHED (PA.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 13. As a result of conversations between representatives of’ the men and the employers in the presence of the Conciliation Commissioner. Mr C. L. Hunter, it is understood that the ZUU slaughtermen and other workers who ceased work yesterday at the Westfield Freezing Works will return to work on Monday morning. A SERIOUS VIEW MINISTER’S ATTITUDE (P A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. “It must be made plain,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, referring to the stoppages at the Westfield freezing Works and the Dobson Mine to-day, “that whatever leniency mav have been shown in the past, the hold-up of production cannot in any circumstances be permitted at the present time.” , Mr Webb said that in the present •circumstances it would be criminal on the part of employers or workers to impede production in any way. _ The country faced the greatest crisis in its history, and everyone must pull his weight for his own safety. If evidence were forthcoming that those responsible for unconstitutional tactics were to blame, they would be removed from the industry, and the Government would not hesitate for a moment to authorise that course. Whatever the merits of the Dobson case might be, said Mr Webb, the action of the men in ceasing work was a breach of the War Emergency Regulations. In view of the present emergency he had instructed that legal proceedings should be taken in order that the company should reinstate three dismissed men and that normal work should be resumed on Monday. The instructions to the Westfield workers were that work should be resumed on Monday morning. Proceedings would be taken against those responsible for the stoppage.