Wage deadline modified

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32522, 4 February 1971, Page 1

Wage deadline modified

(New Zealand Press Association;

WELLINGTON, February 3.

The Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) has modified his deadline for Government action on wage and price restraint in the event of the Federation of Labour and the employers failing to agree on measures to be taken to deal with the situation.

After presiding at a meeting of the parties lasting three hours and a half today, Mr Marshall said that Monday, when the parties are due to meet again, would be the deadline, after which the Government, in the absence of an agreement, would act independently.

Tonight in an interview on the N.Z.B.C. programme, “Checkpoint,” Mr Mai-shall said that the final meeting of the parties—the F.O.L. and the Employers’ Federation—was on Monday, but that the F.O.L. was meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday and after that it would be known whether voluntary agreement on wage and price restraint could be reached. Mr Marshall said that the Federation of Labour was being given an opportunity to'

consider proposals, but Monday would be the last day on which the two parties could come together and agree. Answering his questioner, Mr Marshall said: “We have not warned the parties. We are not working on the basis of threats.” His interviewer asked: “Can you outline the courses?” Mr Marshall: “I could, but it would not be productive while the parties are still considering the proposals.” Mr Marshall described as “legitimate speculation” his interviewer’s suggestions that the Government might impose higher taxation and change the Arbitration Court, but refused to be drawn further. Asked how quickly the

Government would take action in the absence of agreement between the parties, Mr Marshall said: “It is an urgent problem and the Government must take action urgently. The Government must make an immediate decision following a meeting of the Federation of Labour.”