THE “STAY-IN” STRIKE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 335, 16 January 1937, Page 6

THE “STAY-IN” STRIKE

SULL OPERATING.

MEN ADAMANT. Minister Of Labour Holds Conference To-day. Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, Last Night. After three days of deadlock the freezing dispute remains unchanged, he Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, will arrive at Auckland to-morrow morning with the express intention of meeting the men so as to bring about a solution of the problem, which becomes more complex and disturbing as day follows day. It is estimated that the stay-in of the 1500 men involved has piled upon the farm paddocks something like 100,000 head of stock awaiting slaughter at the Westfield, Horotiu and Southdown works. In the face of an appeal by Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, ahd the expectation of many that to-day would be the tjiirning point in the situation, affairs moved at a leisurely gait, but at nightfall the men remained adamant that unless something definite was done to improve their wages and conditions they would not capitulate.

While union pickets idled outside the King’s Wharf works to-day there was bustle and activity within, for a band of clerks and other permanent hands were storing boxes of butter withdrawn by wholesalers for the needs of the Auckland public. No butter is leaving the works. Activities are Concentrated on the urgent task of getting into cool storage before they deteriorate boxes of butter from lorry, steamer and railway waggons. Stocks of dairy produce are accumulating at the Auckland railway yards, as labour is not available to transfer the butter and cheese into the cool stores.