Stop-Work Meetings

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 12

Stop-Work Meetings

Sir,—When Mr Nordmeyer brought down his “Black Budget” for the Labour Government in 1958, did the Federation of Labour hold protest stop-work meetings throughout the country?— Yours, etc., CHAMELON. March 10, 1967.

Sir,—l heartily agree with Mr Scott when he says that many workers are paid for an eight-hour day yet work much less than eight hours. No wonder New Zealand’s economy is in a sorry state. The average worker could not care less how much we can export to help New Zealand’s overseas funds as long as he gets his weekly pay-packet If every New Zealander did an honest eight hours of work every day, it stands to reason that the workmanship would be of a higher standard, more manufactured goods could be exported to complement the primary exports, and the standard of living in New Zealand would be raised. Why can not

we in New Zealand follow the example of European countries, which work conscientiously for the good of their country, resulting in better conditions for themselves? — Yours, etc., SOPHOCLES. March 9, 1967.

Sir,—The publicity given the latest theatricals of New Zealand’s present protagonist of the corny right to withhold labour is out of proportion to their importance. Headlines and solemn television utterances are probably being gleefully applauded by the star of the show as a great build-up for an un-called-for (except by himself) political gesture. However, since Mr Skinner was a lad, audiences everywhere and on all subjects have grown greatly sophisticated. To any adult audience, the performance will not be a successful staging of Government villainy, but a comedy of errors wherein the cast dramatises, unconsciously maybe, its lack of confidence in the acting abilities it chose for the Opposition benches before they have even been sat upon. The show's backers could be anybody’s guess.— Yours, etc., A. B. CEDARIAN. March 9, 1967.