STRIKE OF KAIAPOI SLAUGHTERMEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22785, 8 January 1944, Page 4

STRIKE OF KAIAPOI SLAUGHTERMEN

Thirty-three To Be

Prosecuted

Government To Take Immediate Action

(N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. Instructions have been issued for the prosecution of 33 slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Co-operative Coy., Ltd. who have been on strike since Tuesday afternoon. In a statement this evening the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) said that the Government had decided to take immediate action against the slaughtermen concerned and summonses would be issued forthwith.

“I regret very much the attitude of the slaughtermen, many of whom are very excellent workers,” said Mr Webb. “It is a pity that the great work they have done should be marred by the action of a few. The farmers have been getting lambs ready over the year and the dry weather will cause them to fall back. “Our kith and kin at Home are badly in need of meat, and no effort should be spared to provide the maximum amount of food for those who are working hard, suffering much and fighting all over the world for our liberty and freedom," continued Mr Webb.

“I would appeal at this late hour to the slaughtermen to resume work and allow their dispute to be ventilated in a constitutional manner.

“In the meantime the Government has decided to take immediate action against the slaughtermen concerned and summonses will be issued forthwith. The first essential is work; then we will be prepared to listen to any grievance they have got.” The slaughtermen decided this afternoon to remain on strike until Monday morning, and also to ask the Minister of Labour to come to Christchurch to help to settle the strike before the slaughtermen’s meeting. Members of the Kaiapoi Branch of the North Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union held a meeting at the works in the morning, and in a secret ballot decided by 75 votes to 50 to resume work at 1 p.m. Another meeting of all workers is to be held at the works on Monday morning. The meeting this morning was addressed by the secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union (Mj H. G. Kilpatrick) who went to the works at the request of the men. He submitted to the men a resolution in line with the Union Executive’s policy that they resume work immediately, and refer the matter in dispute to a competent tribunal for settlement. Mr Kilpatrick said that the resolution was not accepted immediately. During a long discussion the Minister of Labour was communicated with, and he said that a tribunal would be set up immediately, and the men given an opportunity to choose their own representatives on it.

When the Minister’s assurance was conveyed to the men a secret ballot was taken on the question of resuming work on that basis. That was at 10.45 a.m., and, as some of the men did not have their lunches with them, and. as little stock could have been killed between that time and noon, it was decided to resume work at 1 o’clock. Representatives of the National Service and Labour Departments were present at the meeting in the morning, but took no part in the proceedings. The officer in charge of the Labour Department (Mr R. T. Bailey) said this evening that the cases against the slaughtermen would be set down for the first available date that could be arranged with the Magistrate’s Court. The slaughtermen are to be prosecuted under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Section 123 provides that, when a strike takes place in any industry, every worker who is, or becomes a party to the strike, and who is at the commencement of the strike bound by any award or industrial agreement affecting that industry, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £10.”