NO WORK ON MONDAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1940, Page 2

NO WORK ON MONDAY

FREEZING WORKERS DECISION LIVELY MEETING AT WESTFIELD, ACTION DEPLORED BY SEVERAL MEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 30. The Government’s arrangement to postpone the King’s Birthday holiday on Monday because of the war situation and the necessity for maintaining production at its highest peak is disregarded by employees of the Westfield Freezing Company. According to a decision made at a meeting of between 400 and 500 men and women today, no work will be done on Monday. Employees at other freezing works have considered similar proposals. At Horotiu, where a meeting was held today, many of the men expressed the opinion that the holiday should be observed, but decision was deferred till tomorrow, when another meeting will take place. There was a similar discussion at the Westfield abbatoir works of R. and W. Hellaby, Limited, but it was stated that it had been arranged for work to proceed as normal, with the exception of a small group of men, who had had little respite for some months. The position at the Southdown and Moerewa works of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Ltd., has yet to be made clear.

Marked by lively exchanges, the meeting at the Westfield Company's works extended for more than an hour. A few speakers deplored the suggestion to retain the holiday when the task of carrying on killing and allied operations was of .national importance. Girls employed in the cannery and other departments were present, and one who criticised the holiday proposal declared that the men appeared to be more concerned with Monday’s race meeting than with the plight of the British forces overseas.

Finally, a resolution to observe the full day as a holiday was adopted by a large majority. Several of 'the men who had urged the employees to recognise the gravity of the situation and apply the Government’s suggestion stated subsequently that there was a constant influx of cattle for killing for the export trade, and for this reason the action was all the more to be deplored. With so much beef coming forward the loss of a day’s work was an appreciable handicap to the Dominion’s war efforts and an embarrassment to the efforts of the Government. It was added that the imperative need for maximum work had been recognised to some extent by butchers, who had been working half an hour extra each daj’. For this they received overtime rates. COMMENT BY MINISTER. LIAISON OFFICER SENT TO AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON, This Day. “There is no legal holiday on Monday,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, in an interview last night when there was referred to him a report that freezing workers at Westfield intended to regard next Monday as a holiday. “The public has to realise that Monday will be considered a usual working day, and that all award and agreement holidays have been suspended to be held at a date to be agreed upon by the parties concerned,” the Minister added. He said it was regretted that such a step had to be taken, but the condition of affairs abroad made it essential to expedite production. “When the matter in Auckland was brought under my notice and I learned there was seme misunderstanding I decided to send the liaison officer of the department. Mr C. L. Hunter, io Auckland to interview all parties. I sincerely hope there will be a general response to the Government’s wish.”