‘Challenge To Whole System’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30576, 20 October 1964, Page 1

‘Challenge To Whole System’

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 19. The waterside dispute had become a direct challenge to the whole system of conciliation and arbitration, the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) said tonight.

After his meeting with the executive of the F.O.L. Mr Shand said he had made it plain to the president (Mr T. E. Skinner), that the Government stood firmly behind the principle of conciliation and arbitration, the basis of which was that when a dispute had been referred to an arbitrator

and a decision had been given, that decision must be accepted by the parties. “In the case of the series of disputes over the handling of bulk tallow a decision has been given by the Waterfront Industry Tribunal laying down the conditions under which bulk tallow shall be handled. to

"Where a dispute arises as the interpretation of this decision either party has the right to refer the question to a Port Conciliation Committee which in some instances

has been done, and again it is to be expected that the decision of the committee will be accepted by both parties,” said Mr Shand.

“I made it plain to Mr Skinner that in this case where the employers are insisting, and some port unions are refusing, to carry out a decision of the tribunal, the employers will have the full backing of the Government, just as the workers would have the full support of the Government in a situation where employers refused to accept a decision. "This dispute affecting only a few men and a few thousand pounds’ worth of cargo may seem a small matter to tie up millions of pounds’ worth of shipping, but it has become a direct challenge to the whole system of conciliation and arbitration,” said Mr Shand.