A "GO-SLOW" STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 36

A "GO-SLOW" STRIKE.

MEN FINED FOR BREACH Oh AWARD. AUCKLAND, February 28. Prosecutions brought by the Labour Department against 18 of the men concerned in the recent “ go-slow ” at the Westfield Freezing Works were heard in the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M. Mr J. Hollows, inspector of. awards, prosecuted, Mr J. J. Sullivan appeared for all the defendants, and Mr Ziman watched the proceedings on behalf of the company. The department asked for a penalty ol £5 against each of the defendants on the grounds that they had committed a breach of the freezing works employees* award in that, on February 10 and 11, they adopted a “ go-slow ” policy. A penally t>f £lO was asked for a breach of the Arbitration Act.

. At the commencement of the hearing Mr Ziman said he wished to make It quite clear that the company had nothing to do with the institution of the proceedings. The company had satisfactorily settled its differences with the men. Mr Sullivan said that he had gone feto the matter, and had reached he decision that it was in the interests if men-to admit a technical breach of Act in that .there bad been a modified fwike. ‘ ' He was willing to plead guilty

to this breach if the “ go-slow ” charges were withdrawn. Mr Hollows said he desired to obtain penalties for the breach of the award. He would then be prepared to withdraw the other charges. This was agreed to. Mr Hollows said it seemed deplorable that the loss suffered by the men, the company, and the suppliers should have been caused by so small an amount. The men themselves had lost £7OO in wages. Mr Sullivan said that had there been a little more tact shown on both sides at the start the whole trouble might Lave been avoided. An animal had come on the board to be killed which the men believed to be a “stag.” The floor walker said it was not. The foreman was appealed to, and he sided with the floor walker. The men were not satisfied, and sent for the Government inspector. While he was on his way the evidences of the “ stag ’’ were destroyed, and not by the men. The men had felt this very keenly, and had held a meeting, after which the number of animals killed was reduced to the minimum. The men regretted the whole trouble. The floor walker had now been relieved of the responsibility of giving his decision whether an animal was a “ stag ” or not.

Mr Cutten said there was too much tendency to fail to see other people’s point of view. There were two sides to every question. The men had already brought severe penalty on themselves by their loss of wages. The penalty would be fixed at £l, with costs.