NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1938, Page 6

NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

THE WESTFIELD FREEZING DISPUTE KILLING OF BQ3BY CALVES COMPLETED SPECIAL COURT SITTING PROPOSED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 21. No settlement of the dispute at the Westfield Freezing Works, which developed on Friday, when GOO workers refused to continue work until improved dressing-room facilities were late hour tonight. The works clerical staff, assisted by volunteers from the city, completed the killing of bobby calves tonight. There was an emergency staff of about 100 engaged, and although a number of the calves died from starvation in their pens, the works management said the mortality was not a high as had been expected. An offer made by the slaughtermen provided, had been effected up to a involved in the Westfield dispute to kill 3600 bobby calves as a humanitarian gesture pending settlement of the strike was refused by the management yesterday morning. The men’s offer was inspired by a telegram from the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon W. Lee Martin, urging this move. The management claimed that they would be unable to cope with the offal and skins with a skeleton staff, but the slaughterman remained firm for killing only. j Using a skeleton staff of permanent workers and the clerical staff, the company killed 600 calves up' to 10 o’clock on Friday night. They all continued work from Saturday morning onward.

It is understood that the Hon P. C. Webb, who is now in Auckland, is attempting to arrange a special sitting of the Arbitration Court at an early date to hear the disputed point about the size of lockers, now set down for October 6. In the meantime all killings, with the exception of bobby calves on hand, have Deen cancelled.