APPEAL ON PRINCIPLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 114, 18 May 1942, Page 6

APPEAL ON PRINCIPLE

THE WESTFIELD COMPANY (P.A.) Auckland, May 15. A sequel to the strike at the Westfield Freezing Company’s works in March was heard at a sitting of the Industrial Manpower Committee. The company appealed against the de- i cision of the district manpower ‘ officer that an employee, C. Melrose, who had been dismissed, must be reinstated. Mr. Bryant, manager of the company, said it was a condition of the settlement of the strike that those who continued working be allowed to remain in their jobs if they wished to do so and that the other workers would work smoothly with them. Ou April 8 he .ret an employee. Simon Morgan, leaving the works with his eye bandaged. He questioned Morgan. who said he had worked through the strike but since then he andotheis had been persecuted by other workers. He had been struck in the eye piece of meat and was unwilling to ston longer. He identified two men. one of whom he all J ged was Melrose, as responsible for the moat throwing. The company notified the manpower officer that the men had been dismissed for misconduct. The other man admitted that, he threw meat but Melrose denied it. although he admitted to the police that he joined in prominently in jeering and laughing at. volunteer workers when they were struck by meat. The manpower officer upheld the dismissal of the other employee but ordered the reinstatement of Melrose. Shortly afterwards Melrose was called to the Army. The company was now appealing on the question of principle. The district manpower officer. Mr. T. G. Fielder, said that, the grounds for Melrose's dismissal were not substantiated. The committee reserved its decision.