NON-UNION LABOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1932, Page 5

NON-UNION LABOUR

TO BE ENGAGED IF FREEZINC HANDS STOP OUT. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 18. “teliouid Unionist labour fail to respond to a caff for work ottered at tne various freezing works in Canterbury, the employers, while regretting such an attitude, will have no option biro to engage other labour to treat stock on order to fulfil obligations to producers,” said a representative of the Canterbury freezing companies today, m discussing the freezing works situation. “The attitude of the companies is that any man who majj be engaged by the employer’s call, and who wishes to remain on and who shows a reasonable degree of efficiency will be given preference of employment.”

It is already evident that the police are prepared to deal with picketing, should this practice be attempted. To-day a part of police, under a sergeant, went to Belfast, where, it was alleged, there had been picketing. They found nothing demanding their attention.

There was a report that they were at Belfast to guard workers loading moat on to truck's, This was untrue. No meat was loaded, In fact, no steamer to receive meat will reach Lyttelton until .Wednesday., Killing for export is expected to start at most of the works on Tuesday. Until then it is not clear what will be the response to the, c'ail for labour. LOADING OF PORT DUNEDIN. WELLINGTON, November 18.' The officers and crew; of the Port Dunedin, who commenced loading frozen meat into the vessel on Thursday, continued loading to-day and to-night. A barrier was put across the, entrance of the Glasgow wharf to keep idlers away, but the watersiders were not interested, and there was no trouble.

No calls were made for labour for the vessel to-day, but a call will be made to-morrow morning. If the watersiders again decline! to handle the meat, the remainder will be loaded by the crew and officers.

The Watersiders’ Union had no comment to make on the situation tonight, nor would they give- any indication whether the men would work the meat to-worrow.