Deadlock On Power Scheme

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31044, 27 April 1966, Page 3

Deadlock On Power Scheme

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON April 26. The Tongariro power scheme was not discussed by the Cabinet today and there had been no further developments that he knew of, said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

“The Public Service Association calls on the Government to withdraw its ultimatum immediately, and allow free negotiations to resume on the wages to be paid on the Turangi project,” said the association’s president, Mr W. E. B. Tucker, in a statement today. A

“The Government’s unprecedented interferences in the Turangi wage negotiations must have astounded every wage and salary earner in New Zealand,” he said. “We are unable to see it as anything other than gross tampering with the right of free bargaining between an employer and his employees.

“While this matter does not affect public servants directly, it has the most sinister implications for the whole wage earning majority of New Zealand’s population. “It is extremely doubtful whether the level of wages paid by the contractor at Turangi will have any effect on the total contract price paid by the Government, unless the terms of the contract itself are completely and irresponsibly fluid. “One must wonder what possible justification the Gov-

ernment can offer for its ultimatum, unless it is a desire to hold down wage levels in the country generally. “We can only interpret it • as a move by the Government to introduce through the back door an insidious incomes policy by which income levels of wage earners are pegged at a time when no control whatever has been even suggested over the income of other groups in the community. If there is any other motive it makes the Government’s move all the more alarming,” said Mr Tucker. The Federation of Labour has told the Italian contracting .combine Codelfa, which is expected to win a £2O million tunnelling contract, that it is not prepared to reopen award discussions until the Government withdraws its letter. i The federation's president

IMr T. E. Skinner, held teleI phone discussions with the iCodelfa promotions manager, Dr. M. Barendson, minutes before he left for Rome. Mr Skinner said Dr. Barendson had told him the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) had asked that ait" approach be made to the F.O.L. in an effort to resume negotiations j which broke down earlier ini the week after Mr Allen had; sent a letter setting out industrial conditions which | would be acceptable to the Government. “I told Dr. Barendson that the F.O.L. could not possibly resume discussions until the Government withdraws its letter on conditions and allows free negotiations to take place. “Nothing has changed as the result of our conversaItion,” said Mr Skinner.