FREEZING WORKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17943, 22 November 1932, Page 2

FREEZING WORKS

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, —In fairness to public opinion, allow me to check up upon a letter in your last issue signed i‘ ‘ One Expert Who Returned. ’ ’ Tour corrcspondent makes a statement which is untrue. The Freezers’ Union has not lapsed, nor has it ceased its functioning while I have been resident in Gisborne some years now. Had your correspondent elated that" the award had lapsed his remarks anent “free men” would have held some color of right. His remarks upon loyalty, hinge upon Whether he has been a member of and resigned from the union. If he was a member at the outset of the dispute and has not resigned, he stands self-convictcd of disloyalty to the union. On the other hand, if a non-member prior to, on during the present dispute, he certaily is a free man. ‘ ‘ Expert —” surel'v realises that a member of an active union, who professes to follow the decision of a majority of that union, and, without resigning, deliberately betrays the trust of 'his felimve without warning, must expect to be classed among those whose manhood has become tainted. Under existing circumstances a condition of virtual free labor does exist, but under any previous theory of unionism a man only becomes free upon resignation. ine professed ignorance displayed by Expert ” upon the existence ot the union reflects vividly upon bis knowledge of what the dispute is about. Your same issue states in a report ou union matters that the local Freezers’ Union are open to aecepf avbitration to settle the dispute. Although faced with a possible reduction of the vywes, etc.;- now under offer to workers' 3 if such arbitration is resorted to, a, definite security would be assured, whereas the present situation (as the employers desire) favors neither day labor ‘ nor contract over a defined period at defined rates, etc., for that period. What is left ? Purely a situation which places the worker where he has no chance of knowing whether he chn be suTe*of • receiving even one shilling for an'hour’s work in a week s run. The employer could, if he wished, vary the pay rate every day. It is a significant fact that the workers do not fear arbitration, but the employers are afraid. Why? The answer appears to be in the report that the Marten Farmers’ Union are urging a still further reduction in the wages of those who have accepted work, including “One Expert Who Returned.” —Yours, “ANOTHER OPINION.” Sir, —In answer to your correspondent, “One Expert Who Returned,” who states that the Freezers’ Union lapsed some months ago, I would suggest that he refer his query to the Labor Department in Gisborne. As “coming events cast their shadows before,” the question of forming a new union should be delayed until he adopts my suggestion.—Yours, etc., C. E. BICKFORD, s Secretary P.B.F.W. Union.