PETONE STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1940, Page 6

PETONE STRIKE

TOBACCO WORKERS’ UNION DEREGISTERED FORMAL NOTICE GAZETTED YESTERDAY. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLJNGTON, This Day. Action was taken by the Government yesterday to cancel the registration of the Wellington Tobacco Factory Employees' Industrial Union of Workers in respect, of the borough of Petone. This also involves cancellation of the Court of Arbitration’s award in respect of the same district. A formal notice giving effect to the Government's decision was published in a special “Gazette" issued late yesterday afternoon. In the course of an extended statement in which he reviewed the circumstances of the dispute (one that arose over a demand by the Union for the reinstatement of a man dismissed) the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb) said: —

“Needless to say, I realise the seriousness of strikes, and I know the suffering that inevitably follows. I believe that the great bulk of the workers in the industry are just as anxious as any member of the Government to render their utmost help in this great crisis, and I cannot help but believe that, had they appreciated the seriousness of the step that they have taken. they would have immediately complied with the very reasonable request I made, to place the matter in the hands of the Federation of Labour, to which they are affiliated, and allow the Industrial Disputes Committee to sit at once and deal with their case. I hope that now, even at this late hour, reason and common sense will prevail, and that the workers will realise the seriousness of the stand that they are taking in ignoring both their own union the Federation of Labour and the Government, which is anxious always to help the workers to maintain and improve the standard of living they now enjoy.” _______