NOW ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 4

NOW ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY

MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR AT AUCKLAND

BRANCH OF UNION IS DEREGISTERED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 23. A call for labour to man the Auckland municipal abattoir at Westfield was authorized by the Mayor, Mr'J. A. C. Alum, tonight after receiving advice from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, that the works had been declared an essential industry under the National Service Emergency Regulations and that the abattoir branch of the Workers’ Union had been deregistered. In the event of sufficient labour offering it is intended to reopen the works ,on Monday.

The Minister’s action in bringing the industry within the regulations is in compliance with a request made to him recently by the Auckland City Council. Difficulties in staffing the works were accentuated by a dispute created when the labourers sought an increase in wages. The council refused to entertain the claims, and after several interruptions in work this week the works were closed down on Wednesday under the instructions of the Mayor. The deregistration of the works branch of the union automatically cancels the award governing the payment and conditions of employment of workers at the abattoir. It was confirmed by the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr C. L. Hunter, that deregistration applier only to the works concerned in the dispute and has no effect on other works. AWARD CONDITIONS

“It is the intention of the council to engage labour at award rates of pay and conditions, notwithstanding the Minister’s decision,” stated the Mayor. The abattoir manager, Mr W. R. Rugg, said the normal complement of staff at the works was 27 slaughtermen and 35 labourers. The prospect of the works resuming the killing of stock will be welcomed by city butchers. Much of the stock which they bought at Wednesday’s stock sale is being held in the abattoir paddocks and the butchers had to draw, supplies of meat from the local freezing works today for their week-end trade. With the exception of some lines, such as mutton, practically all shop requirements were filled by the works. There was a tendency for housewives to make their week-end purchases early in the day and the shops were exceptionally busy. Except for some limitation in the choice of cuts and meats in some shops, there was no inconvenience caused to the public.

SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN OF HOLD UPS

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 23. The announcement that that section of the Freezing Workers’ Union employed at the Auckland city abattoir had been- deregistered today was made tonight by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. The Government, he added, took a very serious view of these hold-ups, and though it would not flinch in its determination to do justice to those employed, it would at the same time insist on the law being observed. Mr Webb said the freezing works industry had been declared an essential industry under the National Service Emergency Regulations. That might be considered by some to be an extreme step, but the circumstances in which the country was now placed demanded nothing short of complete unity in the war effort, for every home was in mourning because of lost ones, while others were sacrificing their positions and their opportunities, indeed, their very lives. The least the workers of this country could do was to give of their best in the industries in which they were engaged. Their best was little enough compared with what the men at the front were going through to preserve the liberty that gave the right to unite to maintain a standard unparalleled in the history of the world. WARNING TO UNIONS “I am positive the actions of the few responsible for instigating these troubles do not meet with the desires of the great mass of workers of this country,” said Mr Webb. “I would again appeal to sober-minded men and women to realize that there must be only one Government. The' Government will not tolerate a continuation of these stop-work tactics, and any union that violates will be immediately deregistered and those responsible for a hold-up in industry will be excluded from working in it during the duration of the war.” Asked if he attributed these industrial disputes and hold-ups to Communist activities, Mr Webb said: Certainly not.” A real Communist, he added, if not fighting for Stalin and his Communist comrades in Russia, would be pushing on with the work to assist them all he could from fins long distance. Many of . our leading Communists joined up with the forces when Russia entered the war. HINDERING WAR EFFORT Some of the white-anters might flatter themselves that they were Communists, but such a type would not be tolerated in Russia for five minutes. In Russia Communists were toiling and putting up one of the most wonderful fights in the world’s history to preserve those ideals that inspired them. These men, who claimed before Russia entered the war that they were prepared to sacrifice their last drop of blood in the fight for Communistic principles, were now doing their utmost to hinder New Zealand’s war effort and to that extent to “scab” on their own comrades in Russia as well as on the trade union movement. “Our trade union comrades in Great Britain, Australia, Russia and America are united in their determination to work and fight for the freedom of democracy,” said Mr Webb. “The Government will do its utmost to co-oper-ate with the trade union movement, which is doing a great job of work in the nation’s war effort, but it will not tolerate these little bands of wreckers. While this little country is in very grave danger, whoever stands in the way, whether employer or Worker, will be brushed aside and the law introduced by the Labour Government in defence of Labour principles will be enforced to the limit. I earnestly hope that common sense will prevail and that these few cuckoos in the trade union movement will find their proper level on the outside.”

TRADES UNIONS NOT CONSULTED HOLIDAYS SUSPENSION ORDER (PA.) AUCKLAND, January 23. Intimation has been received by the Auckland Drivers’ Union from Wellington that the Overtime and Holidays Suspension Order was agreed to by the workers’ representatives on the War

Council and this order would apply to Anniversary Day. Commenting today the union secretary, Mr L. G. Matthews, said that unfortunately the Trades Union movement was never consulted about the Suspension Order. It therefore followed that the workers’ representatives on the War Council had agreed to forgo a principle, which decision should not have been made without consulting the workers. Mr Matthews said the union had received an important communication from the Minister of Labour which would be considered on Sunday next. He would not divulge the contents.