Proceedings Sought Over Report Of P.M.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30482, 2 July 1964, Page 9

Proceedings Sought Over Report Of P.M.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 1.

The employers’ advocate in the Arbitration Court general wage hearing today complained about the reported comments of the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in the House of Representatives last night on the wage hearing.

Mr P. J. Luxford read to the Court a press report that Mr Holyoake said that “wage and salary earners were correct and proper in applying for a general wage order” and that “no one could argue that, in general, they had not fallen behind, except where award rates had been increased.” Mr Luxford said he attached considerable importance to the matter. “Although this is a press statement on a debate in the

House it could possibly come within the orbit of Section 171. of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act,” he said. This section says: “Every person who prints or publishes anything calculated to obstruct or in any way interfere with or prejudicially affect any matter before a conciliation council or the Arbitration Court is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £50.”

Mr Luxfora said he was not sure whether Parliamentary privilege which was extended to members of Parliament in the House also extended to press reports of House debates.

The report in question was certainly calculated to prejudice one or other of the parties in the Court. He asked the Court to submit the matter to the Crown Law Office to find whether a case lay in respect of the published statement, with a view to taking proceedings against the newspaper or newspapers concerned. Mr Justice Tyndall and Mr Luxford referred to three previous instances when similar action had been taken by the Court, and his Honour said the Court would consider taking action this time. Mr Justice Tyndall said he wanted to point out, however, that “this is an independent Court.” He said he could assure advocates that the Court would not be influenced by newspaper reports of discussions in the House of Representatives.

Mr Luxford said that many thousands would read the report and be influenced by it Mr A. B. Grant (workers’ representative on the Court): “And they will give it approval.” Earlier, before Mr Luxford had introduced the subject, Mr Grant had commented that he had read that Mr

Holyoake agreed with Mr Luxford that there would be a wage rise. He was referring to Mr Luxford’s earlier concern that pressure would be brought to have a wage rise written into ruling rates in industry.