PARTIES ADAMANT
WESTFIELD DISPUTE GRAVITY Or SITUATION ADMITTED, DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 24. With the parties in the freezing industry dispute at Westfield remaining adamant m their respective claims, the prospects of a settlement are now centred in the activities of the Federation of Labour, to which the 1700 workers concerned have handed over negotiations. The position was considered at a special meeting of the Auckland district council of the federation on Monday night and a statement was issued today. While the statement, which virtually endorses the claims of the workers, does not disclose the nature of the action being taken by the federation, it is generally affirmed that direct representations are being made to the Government. The gravity of the situation is frankly admitted in trade union circles, and in a statement today the vice-president of the Auckland council of the federation. Mr F. Craig, said that the position was becoming more serious every minute. It is realised by all concerned in the dispute that it cannot be permitted to continue indeterminately. Much of the volunteer labour with which production is being carried on at the Westfield and Hellaby works is purely temporary. In the imperative necessity to resume full-scale production, complete staffing of both works cannot be delayed indefinitely. On the other hand, the issues in dispute are being regarded with extreme concern by the trade union movement. The opinion was expressed in those circles that because of this concern and the need to make an immediate resumption of production a time limit should be set to the negotiations now in train. This view coincides with the decision of a mass meeting of workers in the Trades Hall this morning. It was adjourned till Thursday morning in the expectation that some settlement will have been reached.
‘ NO LACK OF ROOM IN MT. EDEN PRISON. (By —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “There is no lack of room in Mt. Eden prison for the men concerned,” said the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason, referring yesterday to the circumstances under which the 213 Westfield strikers sentenced to a term of imprisonment were granted parole. The Minister added that the proceedings finished at such a late hour as to make it impossible to procure* and cook the evening meal and prepare beds for this number of men. Preparations were completed yesterday. ALLEGED STRIKE TROUBLE AT BELFAST. I CHARGES AGAINST BUTCHERS. WITHDRAWN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. The prosecutions set down for hearing in the Magistrate’s Court tomorrow against 76 Belfast butchers of taking part in illegal strikes will not be continued. This was learned tonight. The withdrawal of the charges will be applied for by the Crown representative, Mr A. W. Brown, when the cases are called. At the instruction of the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, summonses were issued against the men a fortnight ago. They are all employees at the Belfast works of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (A/sia) Ltd. Each man was charged with three breaches of the emergency regulations, the offences being alleged to have taken place on three days in the last week of February. No charges were laid with reference to the fourth stop-work meeting at which the men considered a request by the Minister of Labour for an assurance, which they did not give, that no further stoppages of work would occur.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1942, Page 4
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562PARTIES ADAMANT Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1942, Page 4
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