STRIKE CONTINUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1939, Page 8

STRIKE CONTINUES

AT AUCKLAND FERTILISER WORKS SOME ACID PLANTS CLOSED DOWN. WEEKS NEEDED TO REKINDLE , RETORTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June .28. No progress was made today toward settlement of the strike of 400 chemical manure workers, which developed at Otahuhu. Westfield and Te Papapa works on Monday afternoon. A number of employees at the respective works turned out at 8 o’clock and heard reports given by their delegates. Proceedings were not protracted, and within an hour all the men had departed. At the Challenge Phosphate Company’s works there was a considerable amount of activity for a short time, as the workers called at the works office for the weekly wages. Tuesday is the normal pay-day, but only a few of the men attended then to receive payment. At Westfield and Te Papapa works the acid-manufacturing plants were closed down completely. This step is taken as an indication that the dispute may be protracted, as, according to statements made today, it will require several weeks to rekindle the retorts and bring them to the production stage again. At the Otahuhu works a few of the staff hands are working 12-hour shifts to keep the plant in activity, and at a minimum level of operation, from which it will be possible to-.resume manufacturing without undue delay. It was stated that, should all the plants be allowed to go into complete idleness, there must, inevitably be serious interruption in the-employment of workers. While most of the current orders for manures'•••had been met up to the interruption of work on Monday there are substantial supplies on order, and delivery will depend entirely on the duration of the strike.