MORE TROUBLE AT NORTHERN FREEZING WORKS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1947, Page 5

MORE TROUBLE AT NORTHERN FREEZING WORKS

Press AssociationJ

(Per

AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. Practicallv. all workers einployed ai R. and \\\ Hellaby Ltd. 's free/.iiq. ivorks at Otahuhu went 011 strike a. noon as a protest against the disinissa. last week of more tliu.11 40 chambei hands who refused to load unboneu bobby culves for export. H is understood" the decision, which went to tin ballot, was earried by a narrovv margiii. For the reniaimier of the day the work. were completely idlo. The hamlling o. all stock tor export has been brouglii to a stamlstill but suppiies for local de1 L vc- ri es are not likely to be ininiediatel\ affected. The repercussions of the strike deei sion on the export trade are fikelv ti, be serious. December is a peak nioall. for land) killings and shi[>s are readv t take away these and other exports From now until February is oue of the busiest shipping periods of the yea. when every efl'ort is made to keep produce moving tlirough from eounlry ti. wharves and when any setback is likels to have maximum effects. A statement issued by Ahe companx said the issue arose from ihe questioi. of loading oul oi' a shipmeat to the I'nited kingdoin of approximatidv 4 ( HJ. carcases of hobbv veul. These carcase.had been frozen unboned during a dis pute in August which alfected all tiuworks in Auckland. The conipanv kai, now been directed to sliip the carcases in their present condition but the freezer men refused to load tlieiu otu. Tlie management, after discussiug tlu issue fully with tlie nirii 's delegaies a. the works and after the nien had iinai ly refused to load, had 110 option btii to terminate ihe serviee of more than 40 hands who had persistently deelinei. to earry out their orders. Tlie strike action adds l'urtlier diffi culties to an industry which, since May has been liindered by fhe ' ' go slow policy of the beef butchers at the livi freezing works in the Auckland pio\ inee. Xo solution has yet been founo for this problem. Lxporters are unalih to operate extensively and where largt yardiiigs in excess of local rtupiiremeiits are penued, the market is ad versely alfected.