RAILWAY STRIKE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21368, 12 March 1941, Page 2

RAILWAY STRIKE

SUPPORT PLEDGED CARPENTER’S SYMPATHY PRINCIPLE OF 40-HOUR WEEK (Ry Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday At a largely-attended meeting of : members of the Wellington branch of | the Amalgamated Society of Cari penters and Joiners tonight, two ' speakers from the Hutt workshops 1 addressed the gathering. The fol--1 lowing resolution was carried:— ; “This meeting sends fraternal ' greetings and sympathy to the workers in the Hutt workshops in tneir fight for the principle of the 40-hour week. We request the Gov- ; eminent to pay the railway workshop employees the same rates of pay and employ them for the same hours as workers employed by private enterprise. We pledge our support to the Hutt workshops employees hi their struggle and desire to make a donation toward the fund for the dependents of the strikers.” Approximately 200 returned soldier members of the strikers attended a meeting in the afternoon, when exception was taken to remarks by Mr Semple that the trouble was caused by a few men “whose views were tinged with foreign philosophy.” STRIKE PENALTIES WARTIME MEASURES POWER OF GOVERNMENT Power to deal with strikes during wartime is contained in the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations, which were issued in October, 1939, under the Emergency Regulations Act. A strike is defined not only as a strike within the meaning of the Inaustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but also as the act of any number of persons in discontinuing their employment, whether wholly or partially; in breaking their contracts of service; or in refusing to return to their employment or to accept engagement for any work in which they are usually employed. In addition, the term covers any reduction in the normal output of workers in their employment or any concerted action intended or having a tendency to interfere with the effective conduct of any industry. It is laid down that, during the continuance of the regulations, no person shall be a party to a strike or lockout; encourage or procure a strike or lockout or its continuance; or incite any person to be or to continue to be a party to a strike or lockout. Any person who acts in a manner contrary to these provisions commits an offence against the regulations. No penalties are prescribed in the regulations for the offences mentioned, but the Emergency Regulations Act specifically states that, where no punishment is provided, a person who commits or attempts to commit an offence against any emergency regulations is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for 12 months, or a fine of £IOO, or both.