Otago Union Lifts Ban On Watties

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32266, 8 April 1970, Page 16

Otago Union Lifts Ban On Watties

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 7. The Otago Drivers’ Union ban on carpring goods produced bj 7 J. Wattie Canneries and Unilever, Ltd, is over. This follows a recommendation from the Otago Trades Council tonight.

Today the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner), advised the Otago Trades Council that it might consider recommending a lifting of the ban. This was in order that a meeting convened in Wellington by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) would not be prejudiced. If developments after the meeting were not in line with F. policy then the Otago Drivers’ Union and the Otago Trades Council will consider re-imposing the ban. Three Terms A meeting of the Otago Trades Council tonight decided to ask the Federation of Labour representatives at the meeting with Mr Marshall to press for three special terms.

They will ask that Watties and similar companies justify before a reconstituted Trades Practices Committee any proposed increases in household commodities where records showed that prices being charged were such as to produce an inordinate return for capital invested. Also they intend to ask that overseas companies in New Zealand should submit their financial returns to the Government in the same manner as New Zealand companies. They ask that any New Zealand companies marketing goods overseas at a price lower than to the New Zealand consumer must justify such actions to a reconstituted Trade Practices Committee.