BAKERY DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 6, 8 January 1946, Page 3

BAKERY DISPUTE

RESPONSIBILITY NOW RESTS WITH GOVERNMENT AUCKLAND EMPLOYERS’ STATEMENT (P.A.) Auckland, Jan. 7 j “The responsibility for next Saturday’s bread supply lies now with the Government,” said Mr. H. P. Burton, vice-president of the Auckland Master Baker.? Association, in an official statement on the dispute between the employers and their employees concerning the hours to be worked weekly* “The workers have resorted to direct action to achieve their aims, and it is now for the Minister of Labour to act and enforce the law, if he is prepared to do so,” he continued. -So far, no arrangement: have been made for a conference as suggested to, and agreed by the master bakers. The Labour Department has now been advised by the Master Bakers’ Association that unless a meeting is arranged by Weune--day there will probably be no bread baked in Auckland at the week-end.”

“There is a proper way for the union to settle this dispute with the Government,” continued Mr. Burton, “and it is high time that the public realised that the mas. er bakers are not prepared to be forced into further concessions when the law is being flagrantly flouted in this connection. The union has never, at any time, .produced an authority for its claim MP work a five-day week.”

With baking employees commencing their usual weekly work on Sunday and early this morning, there were ample supplies of bread in Auckland and suburbs to-day. From an early hour shops did a brisk trade, and sales were reported to be considerably greater than is customary on Mondays. In anticipation of a rush for supplies, most of the bakeries turned out extra batches of bread, and practically all the shops’ stocks haa been cleared by mid-day.