Parliament Debates Issues In Strike

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 1

Parliament Debates Issues In Strike

(New Zealand Preet Association)

WELLINGTON, May 9. Discussion on the rail strike, in its second day today moved dramatically from private talks to Parliament.

Normal business of the House was shelved suddenly this afternoon when the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) launched a debate on the strike with a motion calling on Parliament to urge the Railway Tradesmen’s Association to return to work and agree to its claims being referred to the Railways Tribunal.

In more than five hours of debate, the Government hammered away at its arguments for “fair relativity”, for reference of the case to the tribunal, and for not giving in to the demands of the R.T.A.

The Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) warned that meeting the R.T.A’s proposal would create further wage demands throughout the country, and appealed to the strikers to consider the harm they would do to the country.

The Opposition backed the R.T.A.’s claims, warned that only anarchy could result from the Government’s action, and criticised the Cabinet for not meeting last weekend.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Watt) moved an amendment deploring the Government’s direct threat to interfere with a statutory tribunal, urging an immediate resumption of work, and asking the Government to assure immediately that it would maintain the 29.32 per cent margin for skill established for indentured tradesmen by the Railways Tribunal.

This move was the central issue in the latter stages of tonight’s debate. It was apparent that the House was united on one question: that the strikers should go back to work. The special Cabinet committee announced today by Mr Holyoake, met for more than an hour tonight to review the rail strike situation. The committee, composed

of Mr Holyoake, the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) and three Cabinet Ministers, was given a report on the strike situation by a committee of top Government officials which also has been set up by the Cabinet because of the dispute. The officials reported that there were no immediate problems.

After the meeting, Mr Holyoake said that the Cabinet committee had asked for more information on certain matters.

The Government was keeping the situation under constant review and would take immediate action when necessary.

Mr Gordon, said tonight that the Government was adamant that the rule, stating that arbitration would not take place while one party persisted in maintaining strike action, must be observed. He said that there was no obstacle in accordance with the legal machinery which

existed to having the claim—filed by the Government with the railways tribunal on Monday—heard. But there could be no hearing by the tribunal until members of the R.T.A. resumed work, he said. “As soon as the railway tradesmen return to duty and enable the railway system to begin moving passengers and freight, the Government will be prepared to facilitate the hearing of the application now with the tribunal,” said Mr Gordon.

The delegation of authority to deal with the strike to the Cabinet committee was welcomed by the secretary of the R.T.A., Mr A. G. Goldsmith.

“Similar delegation last week-end could have led to the averting of the strike,” he said.

Mr Goldsmith said if the R.T.A. agreed to the calling together of the tribunal within a few days it would be condoning the Government’s interferences which had led to the strike. "We would be going voluntarily to a tribunal still threatened with emasculation if its decision is not one the Government requires. We would also be denying justice to our members,” he said. Mr Goldsmith said that the preparation of a case for the tribunal was normally exacting enough. “On this occasion although the Full Court’s answers considered by the tribunal were clear and concise, the Government intends to raise complex legal issues. “We need the time for adequate preparation,” said Mr Goldsmith.