FINED FOR STRIKING

Taihape Daily Times, 10 June 1919, Page 2

FINED FOR STRIKING

..__o____ WESTFIELD FREEZING WORKS The strike of 30 employees lof the W'estf.ield freezing works, on March 19 last, thus oecasioning delay in the loading of an overseas vessel, resulted in the stl'il~:ers being charged with the offence by the Labour Department (Mr. Lightfoot), before Ml’. E, C_ Cutten. S.M. in the Uagisti-ate’s Court on VVednesday. The men were represented by Mr. Dickson, who entered a plea of guilty. The men, said Mr_ Liglitfoot, had ceased work for only two days, but a considerable delay and inconvenience in the loading of a cargo of meat land been occasioned. For the defence, llvlr. Dickson, submitted ~'that the men. understandiiig that a conference for the decision of wages, otc., was to be held in January had become impatient at the continued c’.;‘.;:_\'s. Their discontent. was "aggravated by the news that the Omployeess in the Whakatnue Works had been granted a higher wage rate. As only 30 out of a total of 500 employees struck’, and as these did not incite the others to follow their example, counsel askd for a nominal pnalty. A fine of £1 was imposed on each defendan.