TO BE PROSECUTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 4

TO BE PROSECUTED

STRIKING SLAUGHTERMEN AT KAIAPOI (P.A? Christchurch, Jan. 7. Ilnslructions have been issued for the prosecution •’/ 33 slaughtermen at the Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers* Co-operative Coy., Ltd., who have been on strike since Thursday 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 sumonses would be issued forthwith. “1 regret very much the attitude of 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. Tarme-s ha\’c been getting lambs ready over the yea* 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 bje spared to picvide the maximum amount of foou for those who are working hard, suffering much and fighting all over the world for our lioerty 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 are 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 settle the strike before a 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, Mr. 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 I union executive’s policy, that they reisume work immediately and refer the matter in dispute to a competent tribunal for settlement. Mr. Kil- | Patrick said that the resolution was not accepted immediately. During a, lengthy discussion the Minister ol Labour was communicated with and he said that a tribunal would be set up immeditely and the men given an opportunity to chose their own representatives for it. When the Minister’s assurance was conveyed to the men the secret ballot was taken on the question of resuming work on I hat 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 bur look no part in the proceedings. The office! in charge of the Labour Department, Mr. R. T. Bailey, said this evening that the cases against the I slaugntet men would be set down for

th° 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 beecmes perty to the strike and who is st the commencement of the strike bound by any award or industrial agreement affecting tnat industry sha'l l e liable to a penalty not exceeding il(i.