WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1928, Page 1

WELLINGTON NEWS

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY. (Special to “ Guardian WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. We have no news of the settlement of the dispute at the Westfield works, and unfortunately for the men it is one of those works that can easily he closed down and the killings transferred to other works, for the "Westfield Works belong to Vestey Brothers, who ane able to stand a siege from the workers. The principle of " go-slow ” is wrong whenever and wherever practised. The men have undertaken a certain work at a'certain price and should have carried it through. The strike is apparently not popular with the men for three hundred voted and the decision was three to one against declaring a general strike. The whole struggle has arisen over the classification of a " stag.” A “ stag,” it maybe pointed out is a ram that has been castrated before it was to be killed and and boned. A fixed price is allowed for killing and boning, and this is all fixed beforehand-. Tile quarrel makes it appear that a new view lias been taken of the matter. However, the c-ase will settle itself, the main point is that three hundred other workers have been nearly drawn into the fight, and they would have lieen in the strike but for their own good sense. It is time that a dispute oi this kind could never lie brought forward, and it is evident by the way- the men have brought about the strike that the men have not justice on their side. They have tried to get their own way hy a subterfuge, anil they hope to carry it through by brute force. A GOOD RECOVERY.

Mr Coates, in dealing with the trade figures, pointed out the excellent recovery that has taken place in Britain and in New Zealand. The Dominion is of course dependent upon the Old Country, and when England shows improvement New Zealand generally billows suit, and that is inevitable, for most of our trade is with the United Kingdom. In regard to our export figures the position is also improving in quite a satisfactory manner. During 192(i the exports from New Zealand wore valued at £48,406,854, and ii.e imports at £11,782,91(1. In 192 b exports were L - 5b.2G2,272 and the import figures £52,-15(1.107, showing an excess of exports over imports £2,805.865. In 1920 imports exceeded exports by £4,613,988, but last year a rather remarkable recovery bad been made, and over tlie past three years the position was that exports had increased by approximately £3,250,000. and imports bad decreased by over £5.000.000. During the last year there had been a demand for New Zealand produce from other countries than Great Britain. Australia, Canada. France and Germany bad all increased their demand for New Zealand produce. The Prime Minister in quoting these figures is making the best of tin position. Australia and Canada arc shutting out New Zealand butter, am’ Germany is raising her tariff which will also curtail the business with those countries.