"LAW FLOUTED"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 8, 25 January 1937, Page 6

"LAW FLOUTED"

Freezing Workers> Action Condoned AWARD 0VER-RIDDEN Strong protest against the action of the Gov&rnment in condoning the freezing works' employees for being allegedly illegalily in possession of freezing works premises during the recent "stay-in" strike was expressed at a meeting of the South Auckland Dairy Association. It was also decided to protest against the action of the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in over-riding an award of the Arbitration Court should he further recommended that if certain conditions were not observed the Arbitration Court should e abolished. Mr R. H. McKenzie. who presided, stated that tbe meeting bad been called in tbe first place to give a report on tbe conference relating to tbe recent freezing workers ' dispute. He added tbat oue phase of tbe dispute was tbe fact tbat chief among those wbo had been engaged in tbe dispute were" tbe slaughtermen. At one time they had been engaged in "solo" killing which bad been displaced by the cbain syStem. "A vital principle is at stake," xdded Mr McKenzie, "and tbe position oecomes serious when a Minister of tbe Crown goes behind the law. The metbod of settlement of tbe dispute indicates tbat we are leading up to a dictatorship. ' ' Mr J. E. Leeson (Morrinsville stated tbat it was pleasing to note that tbe Government bad in tbe present case accepted tbe principle of enabling tbose wbo would be called upon to pay any increase eventually, to have a voice in any decisions. "No reference bas been made to any penalty being imposed on the men wbo broke the law; ' ' said Mr Leeson. "A penalty should be imposed where tbe law has been broken by a party to an award. Tbe Government is apparently taking no steps and has never taken any steps. An unfortunate part of tbe decision is that the men can strike in any industry when it suits them. If tbe Arbitration Court is not obeyed it should be done away witb. ' ' ASSUEANCE NECESSARY A comprebensive report of the conference at Wellington was submitted by Mr A. J. Sinclair (Te Awamutu) who stated tbat he was happy to say tbat tbe position was much better than it was last week even if tbe metbod oi' settlement of tbe dispute would not meet witb tbe approval of tbe mem.bers. Regret at tbe manner in wbicb tbe dispute had been settled was expressed by Mr W. Harbutt (Cambridge). Tbe dairy people would have to give serious consideration to tbe matter of separating tbe killing of cattle from the bandling of dairy produce. A separate union of workers handling dairy produce 'was not stored. It uerfrom -(ihe Government that tbe dairy industry would not be involved in. a dispute connected with tbe meat industry on a future ocasion would have to be sougbt. Mr Sinclair, in expressing agreement with the proposal outlined by Mr Harbutt, stated tbat while in Wellington he found tbe dairy people in the Auckland province were. in a peculiar position. A southern delegate bad stated tbat in freezing works in his area dairy produce was not stored. tt certainly seemed desirable tbat tbe two industries should be separate. ti was decided to make representations to the freezing works companies to have the men bandling dairy and other perishable produce registered in separate unions from tbe meat workers. "I think it wrong tbat tbe men should hold up private property and then be supported by tbo Government," said Mr J- E. West (Hinuera) in proposing tbat a protest should be made to tbe Government. After further discussion tbe following resolution, proposed by Mr Bell and seconded by Mr West, was carried unanimously: "Tbat in view of tbe precarious position in wbicb tbe dairy industry in tbe Auckland Province was placed during the recent 'stay-in' strike, we protest against tbe Government 's^ decision to ignore tbe penalties provided for a breaeh of tbe award, and also for condoning tbe action of tbe employees in being iliegally in possession of the freezing works premises." A INTOLERABLE PRINCIPLE ' ' It was decided to send tbe resolution to the Prime Minister and the Ministers for Justice and Agriculture and tbe Employers' Association, lt was considered tbat tbe resolution was not wide enougb and tbe following resolution proposed by Mr J- E. Leeson and seconded by Mr J. H. Fergusson (Morrinsville) was also carried:-— ' ' That we strongly protest against the action of tbe Minister of Labour in over-ruling an award of tbe Arbitration Court, thus introdueing into industry a principle whicb is intolerable, as we are of tbe opinion that awards of the Arbitration Coui should be obeyed implicitly and penalties enforced, or tbe Arbitration Conrt should be abolished."