Strike at Freezing Works

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3388, 17 January 1920, Page 5

Strike at Freezing Works

% Eiéry Employee Left':Abr{"s"ork, MEATLEFT OUT 09 FREEZER. AM Complete Tum

This morning every employee at the Otaihape Meat, and . Produce Compa.ny’s freezing works struck work, not} even a fireman remaining at ‘his duties. 1 Meat was left where it was lying and not. a man would remoye it. into the freezer. The -actual cause of the strike is not known. It is understood that the Chaifman of the Company, Mr D. G. Gordon, had a very lengthy conference. with the men, running late into the night. The chief cause of trouble seemed to be a demand for increased pay to 37/6. This Mr Gordon conceded, and he, left with full understanding from the men that they were satisfied. That he was misled there seems little doubt, as some employees did not go to their work this morning. Them hala been some complaint algout the cookhouse, but this cannot be of s-uffici-Ant importance to have induced the men to go out despite the understanding they ‘came to léet night. Very little can be learned further regarding what influenced the men to come out not-

withstanding the granting of all the

increase of remuneration that was asked for. There are persistent rumouqv that the men at the Wellington Meat Export Company’s Ngzrhuurangab Work am also out, and that there is trouble at the Marsterton Compzmyis Waingawa Works, but no authentic corroboration has yet come to hand. From infornrattion available the strike ghas the appearancs» of being part of a icompriehensive m'e-concerted move {amongst freezing works -employees, for !this rumour also applies. to the Wairoa ’VVOI'kS! I-laWkc’s Bay. Of course the Taihap-e Company will stand to lose considernblue-_. unless‘ better counsels prevail and men are permitted to remove all carcasela recently killed‘ into thive freezing chamber. Towllspeople ‘are ‘somewhat surprised and excited .With the turn thjnigs have taken, know!ing that it has lbveen part of the policy gof the Otaihape Company to make its ,;works as attractive as possible to all iclaspos of workmen it employs.