“Go Back To Work... Negotiate”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 1

“Go Back To Work... Negotiate”

Mr H. G. Kilpatrick, a former secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Association and prominent member of the Labour movement, yesterday advised trade union members to go back to work while their leaders negotiate “on a far from simple problem.”

He strongly supported, he said, the call for sanity and unity made by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk). In a letter to “The Press” Mr Kilpatrick said: “Like the vast majority I expected the Court to follow the usual pattern and give the boys something to keep them quiet, say, a minimaximum of 21 or 3 per cent. I expected a restricted order applicable to the first $2O or $25 of wages. However, the Court confounded everyone, even the Government, I think, and so created a situation embarrassing all round, to the Government as much as the Federation of Labour. “Not Given Time” “Both Government and employers bent over backwards

to rectify the position, but quite simply have not been given decent time to do so in a dignified manner. Precipitate action, wild and woolly threatening statements, with some alleged labour leaders rushing about like chickens with their heads chopped off, led to reconsideration and rejection by the Government of the recommendations of the joint conference called by the Minister. "The Federation of Labour meantime had adopted some policy resolutions to put pressure on the Government, and many of a babel of spokesmen were threateningly vocal about it instead of keeping their silly mouths shut. No Government (not even a Labour Government) worthy of the name could have bowed to the pressures as they were up to Thursday afternoon. The Federation of Labour’s resolutions were adopted

against the background of expectation that the Government would adopt the joint conference recommendations and amend the Court’s order of reference. “A completely new situation developed at this point, and I fully expected the Federation of Labour leaders to call for a review of tactics and strategy, and that they would give serious consideration to Norman Kirk’s urgent call to call off the bans and strikes and give all concerned more time to mend and improve a situation which most agree should be attended to, especially in the case of lower-paid workers who really need help. “Up to this moment the response of some industrial union officials who should know better has been negative, and, in my opinion, irresponsible. Do these people imagine for one moment they can defy and defeat the State with public opinion against them and a movement divided down the middle? Lessons of 1951 “As a responsible Labour leader pledged to constitutional procedures, Norman Kirk, for these reasons as well as for reasons of some common sense is more than right in advising a resumption and continuance of work pending negotiations on a far from simple problem. Your leading article this morning is timely and should recall bitter lessons by those involved in the 1951 dispute. “I fully support the advice given in your leader, and I Strongly support Norman Kirk’s call for sanity and unity. We will certainly get nowhere fast without them. My advice to all workers is to stick to their jobs and their pay and let their elected leaders fight it out.”