FREE LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 65, 18 March 1942, Page 5

FREE LABOUR

PRIME MINISTER’S CALL GOVERNMENT’S VIEW OF WESTFIELD TROUBLE (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., March 17. The Government is immediately applying for free labour to take the place of those who stopped work in the freezing industry in Auckland, according to a statement made by the Hon. P. Fraser. tie said the Government took a 'most serious view of the action of the workers at Hellaby’s, Westfield and Southdown freezing works, and was determined to defeat this effort to dictate to the country when it was in extreme danger. Meat was required by the people of Britain. Meat, butter and cheese were required for our brave men who fought for New | Zealand in Greece and Crete and in Libya. The action taken was an attack upon our war effort and was a challenge to the Government and people of New Zealand. On behalf of the Government hr called for men to volunteer to take at once the place of those who had deserted their posts. He called upon every loyal citizen to come to the assistance of the country and the country’s war effort. He asked men to enrol at once with the nearest State placement office. Mr. Fraser added that the union concerned had been deregistered ana consequently had no further jurisdiction. Therefore the way was cl-ar for all to assist. He hoped the action taken would receive sufficient assistance for the work to go on unimpeded. Mr. W. S. Goosman: "Will protection be afforded?” Mr. Fraser; "Oh yes! That is a police job.” He continued that the police authorities in Auckland h’hd the matter well in hand. He did not anticipate trouble, however, because he thought the common sense of lhe men would assert itself and the work would go on. He understood the cool stores on the Auckland wharves had also been affected, but he hoped sufficient men would be forthcoming today to get the meat shifted, TROUBLE EXTENDS DISPUTE AT WESTFIELD DISLOCATION OF INDUSTRY (P.A.) Auckland, March 17. Dislocation of the freezing industry and the handling of produce in cogi stores in the Auckland district, became absolute to-day when 600 employees at the Southdown works and King’s Wharf cool stores of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Ltd., ceased work and joined forces with the 350 men at Hellaby’s premises who have been idle since last. Thursday and the 1400 mon and women al Westfield Freezing Company’s establishment, who went out on Monday afternoon. The gravity of the situation in the almost total interruption of the production of canned and other meats urgently required for the Dominion and Imperial lighting forces and thu people of Britain was reflected in appeals made to-night by the management .1 the Westfield Freezing Company and the Prime Minister for volunteer labour. The imperative necessity of resuming operations in the Westfield Company’s cannery, which employs about 550 hands and is one of the largest in the Dominion, was made clear in a statement issued by the management. An official sa*d: "Every gu; the plant is not working we are losing 120,0001 b. of canned meats which are required for the forces overseas. There is no way in which those losses can be made up.” An immediate response to the call for volunteer labour was found in many parts of the province. Offers of help were received from North Auckland and the Waikato, and numerous indications of local assistance were forthcoming. Reports from Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay statea that volunteers were arranging to travel to Auckland. An appeal to students at the Auck'and University College to answer the call for labour was made by the president of the Students’ Association. MAORIS TO VOLUNTEER LOYALTY AFFIRMED (P.A.) Wellington March 17. Maoris employed at Westfield works sent a telegram to the Hon. P. K. Paikea, member of the Executive Council representing the native race, disassociating themselves from the freezing workers’ strike. It is stated that between 150 and 160 Maoris are involved in the dispute and Mr. Paikea replied suggesting that all Maori workers volunteer for service at the works immediately. The telegram, which was signed by Koi Tarawa, is as follows:—"We Maoris, as a section of the Westfield workers, do hereby send our protest of the notice for action taken by the majority of workers. As you have been vested with powers and rights, therefore we ask you to exempt all Maoris from all disputes contrary to law and order for the duration of the war. God bless you and our Government in your endeavours to keep the common enemy now nearing our shores away."