BUTCHERS IRRITATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27212, 15 October 1949, Page 7

BUTCHERS IRRITATED

Go-slow At Smithfield Workers' Bonuses Cancelled NZPA Special Correspondent Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Oct, 13. Butchers, irritated by the work-to-rule tactics employed by porters at Smithfield market, decided at a mass meeting in London last night to cancel their weekly contributions to the porters’ “ beer fund,” and not to distribute their usual Christmas bonuses to workers at Smithfield. Only one man among the 850 butchers present opposed t?.e decision, and when he got up to speak he was howled down.

The meeting also decided to protest strongly to the Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, against the Government’s handling of the Smithfield go-slow campaign, and to inform the Prime Minister that in future the butchejgs refused to guarantee the co-operation they had shown in the past. Several speakers strongly criticised the Minister of Food, Mr John Strachey, and accused him of “gross discourtesy” in refusing to meet them to discuss the situation.

■ “We have searched for a reason for this hold-up at Smithfield, but have been unable to find it,” said Mr A. F. Kay, a former president of the London Retail Meat Traders’ Association. “The trouble has been Stirred up by a mere handful of extremists, who have made up their minds to sabotage everything it is possible to sabotage in this land to-day.’.’

Mr C. A. Douglas, a member of the executive, said: “We warn the Gwernment that we will not put up with this bickering and dislocation caused by a mere handful of men. Had a secret ballot been taken at Smithfield during the first week of the dispute, 90 per cent, of the men would have voted to return to full work. Later this same 90 per cent, of men would not handle bonus meat because they are being held to ransom, blackmailed, and intimidated.”