“Red Guard” element blamed for unrest

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32562, 23 March 1971, Page 2

“Red Guard” element blamed for unrest

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 22. A “Red Guard” Communist element in some trade unions has been blamed for much of New Zealand’s industrial unrest.

The Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) speaking to the Mount Albert branch of the National Party at the week-end, said that this group was “bent on creating dissension.”

Mr Marshall said there was a Communist element in a few unions—“known as the Red Guard” —which was a disruptive influence. “The responsible leaders of the trade union movement are well aware of their activities and of the means to combat them,” he said. “But the most effective action can come from the rank and file of the trade union membership, recognising the Communists in the few unions where they are causing unrest and disruption, and keeping them out of office by the democratic process of voting against them.” Clause disliked

Mr Marshall said that most of the union opposition to the Stabilisation of Remuneration Bill was expected to be against the section containing machinery for a mandatory 7 per cent ceiling to be applied to wages. The pattern for the procedure of the bill, he said, would be: “A wage adjustment of more than 7 per cent must go to the Remuneration Authority, with reasons, if the authority is satisfied, no action is taken.

“If the authority considers any new agreement for more than 7 per cent unjustified, it must report this to the Minister. The Government may then decide to bring in section three of the bill which makes the 7 per cent restraint mandatory?’ Mr Marshall said that the Government could act even without advice from the authority. He also outlined the Government’s four-point response to claims by the Labour Party and trade unions that

there should be a complete control of all incomes and prices:

“They are unnecessary to restrain inflation. Wherever possible the Government

prefers the free play of competition as the best regulator of prices. “Complete price control is administratively impractical. “The Government has gone as far as it thinks reasonable and effective with limited price control. “There is provision in the

bill for cost-of-livtng adjustments to wages and salaries if and where increases in remuneration this year are not enough to cover increases in the cost-of-living. “There is some concern that wage restraints may trigger a series of industrial stoppages, but we should not be too concerned by the present outbursts by some union leaders,” Mr Marshall said. Firm stand "Already with a clear understanding of the intention and operation of the bill some more responsible trade union leaders are becoming more relaxed and less hostile. “But when the bill is passed it becomes the decision of Parliament, and the Government is determined that the law will be preserved,” said Mr Marshall.