Mr Bockett Asked To Explain

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30259, 11 October 1963, Page 16

Mr Bockett Asked To Explain

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 10. “I have stated that if I had misconstrued any words of the Secretary of Labour (Mr H. L. Bockett) I publicly withdraw them and apologise; I also said that if Mr Bockett assured me that the provisions of the I.C. and A. Act including the penalties can and will be enforced, I would apologise again,” said Mr E. W. McCallum, president of Federated Farmers, today.

"Mr Bockett refuses to give that assurance. He says that the art ‘could and would undoubtedly be enforced in appropriate cases’ but according to the report of the Labour Department for the year ended March 31, 1963, there were 85 stoppages of works.

“Also according to the report, there were no prosecu-

tions—there were no appropriate coses. For the previous year there were 79 stoppages. Again there were no appropriate cases. “Is it any wonder that at the same time as Mr Bockett suggests I have misconstrued

bis words, we find employers in Auckland telegraphing the Government stating that they are ‘gravely alarmed at the impunity with which the industrial laws of-New Zealand can be breached’.” Mr McCallum said Mr Bockett should say whether a statement attributed to him that New Zealand would still have strikes no matter what legislation was passed or penalties imposed was correct or otherwise. If the statement was correct, Mr Bockett should explain what the statement could mean other than that either the provisions of the act relating to strikes could not or would not be enforced, he said.

"I repeat, ‘if the law te not going to be enforced it should be altered.' If we are going to give any Government department the right to say whether or not the law should be enforced, we are

giving it the right to say what the law should be. That is surely a question for Parliament.

‘‘lf any portion of the law can be treated with contempt it must engender a general disrespect for law. I suggest that the laws on toe Statute book should be enforced, and that the appropriate agency to decide what are appropriate cases, should be toe courts,” he said.