FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 24002, 18 December 1939, Page 6

FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

Regulations Invoked By Minister “SERIOUS VIEW OF ANY STOPPAGE” (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 16. The regulations have been invoked by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) in the Belfast freezing works dispute which will now come before the National Disputes Committee and instructions have been given to proceed with the setting up of the disputes committee forthwith. The Minister added that he was very disappointed at the attitude taken up by the company. Mr Webb met the representatives of the company last night with the object, he said, of expediting an early resumption of work as he. wanted a > mutual agreement to continue work under the present conditions until such time as the dispute could be dealt with. 1116 men were agreeable to such a course. "The Government takes a serious view of any stoppage in the industry,” the Minister said, "irrespective of whether it be by the companies, employers or workers. Never were we in greater need for close co-operation between all agents in the field of production than at the present time. The companies and the men must realize that the rights of the country and the Empire are paramount and anybody who stands in the way of the expansion of our industries will • receive no quarter as far as the Government is concerned.”