"Strike Not Justified”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 3

"Strike Not Justified”

(N.Z. Press Association) WHANGAREI, Jane 27. The Minister of Works (Mr Allen) has told the Carpenters’ Union that he does not consider it has any justification for stopping work on the Marsden Bay power station site. The secretary of the union (Mr W. F. Molineux) said today in Wellington that he

had a letter stating this from the Minister. The carpenters walked off the power station site on June 15 in protest at labouronly contract work on the permanent village adjacent to the site. Mr Allen’s letter stated that he considered the dispute was a strike against an employer (the power station construction consortium) who had nothing to do with the point at issue. i He said the permanent village contract was let (to I Paramount Homes Ltd.) with

the full knowledge of the Ministry of Works that labour only was concerned. “Nonna! Method” While no specific written letter was issued, there could be no question but that the contract was approved as a norma! method of building. In light of the Cabinet decision in favour, he could not possibly take advantage of the sub-letting proviso in the contract documents to refuse permission for this on the permanent village housing contract at Marsden Bay, the I Minister wrote.

I Mr Molineux said today that he was preparing a reply from the union to the Minister.

A special meeting of the national executive of the union is to be held in Wellington tomorrow to discuss the labour-only contracts dispute, the Auckland branch secretary (Mr A. Russ) said yesterday. Report On Dispute A special meeting of 250 (shop delegates would be held [in the Auckland area on Wednesday night. ; The delegates would be given reports on the dispute | and they would be asked to (organise collections. ! “We anticipate this dispute ! will last for weeks,” Mr Russ said.

“This is unfortunate,” he said, “when 10 minutes across the table with people wanting to find a solution could resolve the dispute.” Mr Molineux said today that a meeting of the Federation of Labour this afternoon would consider the situation, although it was not handling the dispute.