NO ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 4

NO ACTION

BEER SUPPLIES BREWERS’ ASSURANCE STOCKS FOR WEST COAST Grcymouth’s sole remaining sixpenny hotel is assured of beer 'supplies. The management of the Dunedin brewery which was threatened with the declaring “ black ” of any of its products destined for other parts of the country until the West Coast had adequate stocks guaranteed, yesterday assured the Transport Workers’ Federation that the needs of the Westland hotel would be met and, at least in the meantime, no action is planned against the brewery.

The decision was considered at meetings of the local branch of the Transport Workers’ Federation and the Trades Council last night, and statements were issued by both bodies. In each case it was made apparent that the matter of the West Coast beer boycott had been considered on the broad basis as a protest against the general increase in the cost of living. “ Having been assured that the sole remaining sixpenny hotel in Greymouth will receive its full quota of beer, the branch has decided that no further action be taken in the meantime,” said Mr J. G. Jamieson, in a statement to the Daily Times issued on behalf of the Transport Workers’ Federation last night. “We are resolved, notwithstanding this assurance, that the campaign against rising prices should be continued. To this end we suggest that the operations of the Price Tribunal be made more effective and that severe penalties, including gaol sentences, be inflicted for any breach of the regulations. In view of our concern at the greatlyincreased cost of living we call on the Government to use every means at its disposal to reduce the hardships at present being experienced by the workers.”

Trades Council Support The Trades Council, which held its monthly meeting last night, also considered the West Coast beer boycott, and passed the following resolution: — “That we support the West Coast unionists in their attitude and in their attempt to keep the cost of commodities at the lowest price possible.”

It is stated that the assurance given by the brewery may well have saved a difficult situation in the transport industry in Dunedin. In spite of the request from Wellington for action to be taken against the brewery which supplies the West Coast, there was a strong feeling among at least some of the drivers who would have been directly concerned in any such move that the matter was not one for them. Had a vote been necessary at last night’s meeting it is probable that there would have been considerable opposition to the declaring “ black " of local beer supplies.