MR NASH RESTATES INDUSTRIAL POLICY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 12

MR NASH RESTATES INDUSTRIAL POLICY

(New Zeolami Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 17.

The industrial policy of the Government that “steps will be taken to ensure that industrial agreements properly made are kept by all parties” was restated tonight by the. Prime Minister (Mr Nash).

“Together with the Minister of Labour (Mr Hackett), I today discussed with the Federation of Labour representations made to me by the employing shipowners in connexion with work on the water-; front,” said Mr Nash. “My colleague Mr Hackett will now invite the shipowners to discuss with him the, contents of their telegram with a view to ascertaining the facts behind the message on the shipowners’ dispute with the waterside workers.” .

Mr Nash added: "The Government is firmly convinced that there is no lasting alternative to orderly conciliation and arbitration proceedings undertaken in a spirit of good faith on both sides. The Government is ready to play its proper part in industrial relations, but I want to emphasise that for the stability and welfare of the country it is incumbent on all parties concerned to make the system work. “There is no room for uncompromising rigidity by any party to an industrial dispute, and the country, whose welfare is the paramount consideration, has every right to expect that both the letter and the spirit of conciliation be respected. If in spite of negotiations in good faith no voluntary agreement is possible, then resort must be had ;o arbitration. "Finally, I suggest to both public and press that it to the duty of all of us to cast aside all prejudice in these matters, and take a balanced, objective view of the fr its. After all, facts are a more reliable guide than emotion.” - Federation’s Policy Mr Nash and Mr Hackett attended a meeting today of the national council of the Federation of Labour. Afterwards the president of the federation (Mr F P. Walsh) said that the Prime Minister had been assured that there would be adherence to the policy of conciliation and arbitration. , - , „ Messrs Nash and Hackett addressed the meeting during the afternoon, and among the subjects of discusaion was the recent dispute on the waterfront, said Mr Walsh. For the first time the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour had the opportunity of hearing the workers’ side of the case, Mr Walsh said. “In a nutshell, on this occasion it was the employers who refused even to take part m conciliation proceedings, but subsequently agreed to do so in name only,” Mr Walsh said. . “It was pointed out that recently the Wellington Harbour Board increased the rates to workers by 2d an hour, the brewers to their workers by 7s 8d a week, and the workers in wool-scour-ing works had received 20s a week,” said Mr Walsh.

“Arrogant and Dogmatic” “The port employers, although admitting that they had made millions over the last year, were not prepared to make any offer, and it was their arrogapt and dogmatic attitude in Conciliation Council proceedings that was responsible for the breach between the workers and their employers. "On behalf of the Federation' of Labour we assured the Prime

Minister that once we make an agreement we : will honour it and that the Federation of Labour stood for its policy of conciliation'

"We wished the Prime Minister bon voyage, and trusted that his mission to Japan would prove fruitful to this country and the Japanese.” The council meeting will continue tomorrow.

Recent Wage increases JThe waterfront;, industry was in a far more healthy position to meet a delayed adjustment in wages than many other industries, said Mr J. E. Napier, general secretary of the North Island Waterfront Workers’ Industrial Association, in a- statement today. Mr Napier said the records of the Arbitration Court showed that during the last 14 months more than 130 industrial awards had been amended with increases in the basic rate of pay after conciliation proceedings. Waterside workers could therefore rightly expect their employers to extend similar treatment to them, especially as their basic wages had been frozen for three years and a half. The records of the Waterfront Industry Commission today showed that in the main waterside workers were a responsible, hardworking body of men whose work effort equalled that of any other industrial organisation and had been the means of providing the shipowners with record profits, as their published balance-sheets showed.

MR HOLYOAKE COMMENTS

Other Promises Recalled

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 17. "The Prime Minister’s statement last night of intentions concerning the Government’s industrial relations policy is reassuring so far as it goes, and it will be welcomed,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H lsitiß fresh in the public mind that during the former Labour regime, equally brave and high-sounding sentiments were expressed by the Government, but that when serious trouble occurred on the industrial front the words were forgotten and a "neither for nor against’ policy was adopted, with lamentable results for the country and for workers generally,

.“It remains now to be seen what resemblance the Government’s future performance Will bear to its promise on this occasion. To date, thq Government’s actions have given the public little ground for confidence that, if direct action is again taken by the troublemakers, the law will be upheld.”