"FORM OF COERCION"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 11

"FORM OF COERCION"

DISSATISFACTION VOICED

. (By relegraph—Press Association. I '\

AUCKLAND, November 30,

"Though it is true that comparatively few workers have, openly opposed the decision to strike, votes at mass meetings do not show the real opinions of the majority," said one of the men involved in the Westfield dispute. He said the method of mass voting was a form of coercion that was difficult to combat. Workers were swayed not by feelings of loyalty or sympathy' but by reluctance to be the butt of their fellows when they went against the delegates' recommendations.

Another worker said'the rank and file of men were dissatisfied with the handling of their affairs. ■ , ;

"Unless something, is done to stop those pin-pricking strikes, a move will be made to, break away from the union," stated a man who said he had nothing at stake in the dispute. He said a suggestion to establish another, union for labourers and other workers not concerned with the slaughtermen's disputes was being openly 'canvassed. ' •

During'the forenoon the management organised a team of men from their works and outdoor staff to kill and dress 1200 fat lambs that have been at the works since Monday. The company's country buyers from various parts of the province and the works and office permanent staffs and a number of clerical workers from the firm's Hamilton office were organised into gangs for handling lambs and loading out the-remainder of the chilled, beef, for shipment on Saturday. Killing was begun shortly befote noon ■ and continued until the normal hour of shutting down' in the evening. Good progr.ess was made in spite of ,the fact that the work was foreign to the experience of many of the men engaged. A gang of about 60 manned part of the ring system, which, is the basis of, the dispute.