Industrial Unrest

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 16

Industrial Unrest

Sir, —Mr Justice Blair says “No order.” The F.O.L. and the employers agree to an amendment to the I.C. and A. Act. The New Zealand farmers who allow overseas shipowners’ insurance and pastoral companies to bleed them white disagree with the amendment to the Act, thus, in effect, opposing the working people having enough to live on. I wonder how many farmers are in that position in this affluent society of ours. —Yours, etc., G. G. WALKER. July 10. 1968.

Sir, —As one who worked hard, but happily, for 42 years, saving modestly and now pensioned off, I find it most disturbing to read of the Leader of the Opposition supporting the claims for increased wages at a time when we should all be trying to help rather than hinder the return to economic stability. Of one thing I am sure: my pension will not go up, even though the cost of living will. The Leader of the Opposition claims to be the friend of the pensioner. All I can say is that he shows it in a most peculiar way.—Yours, etc., DISAPPOINTED IN LABOUR. July 9, 1968.

Sir,—“Hops’s” letter, his grin about the grin-and-bear-it beer situation, is a timely reminder of Mr Skinner’s badly chosen words through his loud-hailer: “We’re not a rabble, but a movement.” His movements lead to the stagnancy of stale beer, as those workers who do not prefer Wine and spirits can now observe from laid-up beertankers. Before they are moth-balled, a look at movements in France is worth while. As general wage increase moved upwards, stabilising gold assets moved out, and the movement of trade

with European partners faltered. Most New Zealand wage and salary earners are sane, and to consolidate assets would have waited 12 months for an application to the Arbitration Court. They are being used wholesale with political, not economic, purpose, and being told to pull themselves up by their inflated boot-straps. Yours, etc.. A. B. CEDARIAN. July 10. 1968.

Sir, —I trust Mr Kirk and the militant F.O.L. leaders are pleased with the present disruption and strife, which bring the country into a lawless and undisciplined state. There are only two factors to this “arbitration” and “application.” The former we possess; the second is needed. Let the powers that be be given the strength to see it is carried out. During the last few months Mr Kirk has been so critical so often. Why the silence now?— Yours, etc., INTERESTED. July 10, 1968.

Sir,—The Government enforces a temporary price freeze, presumably to allow breathing space (free of major industrial strife) and sufficient interval for hurried arbitration regarding wage increase, which I predict will be 5 per cent But after the Lord Mayor's show? Decontrol of prices, general stampede of business houses to ride on the “increase” waggon, accentuated by devaluation effects not clearly visible as yet. Even now I have visions of that mire completely engulfing me.—Yours, etc., NO HOPE; KEEP THE ROPE. July 10, 1968.