WESTFIELD DISPUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1942, Page 4

WESTFIELD DISPUTE

METHOD OF HANDLING CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. MINISTERIAL REPLIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The dispute at the Westfield freezing works, which resulted in a number of workers being sentenced to imprisonment and shortly afterward released, was the subject of the most animated discussion yet heard at the present annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party in the Wellington Town Hall. When special leave was granted to have the matter discussed, one delegate attacked the Government for calling for volunteer workers and most of the speakers, including the president of the Federation of Labour, Mr .A. McLagan. were to some extent critical of the Government’s actions. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, were present during the discussion and vigorously defended the manner in which the Government had handled the situation. The Prime Minister was emphatic that the major issue today was the war effort, and said that the Government would take the limit in extreme action to ensure that this was not obstructed by industrial disorder. Mr Webb attached the blame to a small section of union wreckers. Those responsible for taking direct action had betrayed their own country and their soldiers, but the Government would not permit such betrayals, added Mr Fraser.