THREAT OF STRIKE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 40, 16 January 1945, Page 5

THREAT OF STRIKE

DAIRY WORKERS DEMANDS

SERIOUS EFFECT ON RANGITAIKI

As a result of a mass meeting of dairy workers representatives at Hamilton last Friday t it was decided to stage a general stoppage of work today ? unless certain variations were given effect to in the award covering the industry. As a result factories are once? again considering the emergency measures which were evolved some two months ago when the first agitation took

place.

The Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, as a manufacturing establishment finds itself in a serious position, for the stoppage would involve some thirty factory workers and seventeen lorry drivers. It will be impossible therefore to carry on with an inexperienced and a total absence of keymen. The only alternative, according to a common decision of the directorate would be to cease production. This drastic ation at a time when production is at its peak must have , very farreaching effects.

The Company advises its suppliers that, owing to circumstances beyond its the cream may not be collected this morning, or upon 1 subsequent and farmers were therefore advised to put their cream on their stands as usual, but that, if the lorries failed to operate at the approximate time usually observed to remove the. cream again ? as the company would not be able to accept delivery. Suppliers would be notified immediately the company was operating and in a position to accrpt deliveries of cream. The question of whether the Rangitaiki factory will be operating or not depends upon the settlement or otherwise made by the. Union heads with the Government on matters concerning the points which are in dispute. Reports received this- morning indicate, that the factory is not operating, and that as yet no offi--cial word has been received regarding a settlement of a satisfactory nature.