Mr Shand’s Offer Of Talks Taken

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 1

Mr Shand’s Offer Of Talks Taken

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 5. The Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) tonight urged the Federation of Labour and the Employers’ Federation to hold talks in an effort to avoid further deterioration in industrial relations—and both federations announced within a few hours that they had accepted Mr Shand’s invitation.

Mr Shand sent a telegram to Mr T. E. Skinner and the executive director of the Employers’ Federation (Mr P. J. Luxford) only an hour after a special Cabinet meeting had been held to discuss industrial unrest.

Mr Shand’s telegram read: “I consider that your two federations, if they meet together, may be able to avoid further deterioration in industrial relations —which, if not arrested, may do grave damage to every section of our society, including its primary industries, and affect our balance of payments and our export trade.

“I invite the Employers' Federation to appoint seven members to meet the seven members of the executive of the Federation of Labour in the conference room, head office of the Department of Labour, at 2 o’clock on Monday, July 8

“I ask you at that meeting to seek agreement upon a course of action by which the threatened break-down in the long-established system of industrial relations in this country may be averted. “On the assumption that you will both accept this invitation, will you please advise your members that pending the outcome of your meeting they should refrain from any action which might further inflame the situation or make a rational solution more difficult to achieve.” Mr Skinner said in Auckland tonight that the executive of the F.O.L. had agreed to accept Mr Shand’s invitation but there would be no instructions to unions from the F.O.L. meanwhile.

If any agreement was to be reached as a result of the conference. the talks would have to be carried out as quickly as possible. Mr Skinner strongly denied a report that he had tried to persuade the F.O.L. special conference on Thursday to return to the Court of Arbitration, and that he was outvoted on this course, 4-3, on the federation’s national executive.

“This is incorrect,” said Mr Skinner. “No vote was taken on the executive and there was no suggestion that we should return to the Court. I mysel* submitted the resolution to the special conference calling for direct bargaining with the employers and it was unanimously agreed to.” Mr Shand met representatives of the Employers’ Federation today to discuss methods of avoiding a clash between unions and employers over a general wage increase. Mr Shand said this afternoon that the meeting was held after separate talks with Mr Skinner and Mr Luxford.