Seeking Penalties Against Strikers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 1

Seeking Penalties Against Strikers

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, June 13. A full investigation into the legality of strikes at freezing works will be made by a committee of the meat and wool section of Southland Federated Farmers.

Fanners want to know if it is possible to take legal action against any person or organisation for any loss sufferred by farmers as a result of such strikes. The section will also renew attempts to have legislation brought down which will force freezing workers to kill stock on hand before striking. A previous investigation failed when the South Island Freezing Companies Association withdrew its support after promising full support. A recent meeting between representatives of Federated Farmers and the association in Invercargill heard strong criticism of the withdrawal, a Federated Farmers’ meeting was told today. As a result, the association’s representatives undertook to

support the move if it. was made again.

Federated Farmers’ members today asked whether it was possible to legislate against strikes—which were already illegal. One farmer maintained the Government should take strong action against unions striking illegally. Deregistration was the answer, he said. Others said that if legislation existed to prevent strikes, it should be used. There was much discussion on whether stock at freezing works should be taken back to farms or left at works when strikes occurred. One member maintained stock should be left at works to starve so that public opinion would rise against freezing workers, but there was a wide difference of opinion on the matter.