Employer and unionist debate

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32565, 26 March 1971, Page 1

Employer and unionist debate

(Bp our industrial reporter) Statements by a Christchurch employer, Mr R. H. Stewart, which were reported in “The Press” yesterday, led last evening to a television debate between Mr Stewart and the leading trade union official, Mr A. J. Neary.

Speaking on the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation programme, “Gallery,” Mr Stewart reaffirmed his opinions that the Stabilisation of Remuneration Act would lead to massive strikes and that recent strikes had been called in opposition to the wishes of rank-and-file workers.

The television interviewer, Mr D. Beatson, suggested that Mr Stewart had put words into the mouths of unionists and that there was no evidence to support Mr Stewart’s forecast of “massive strikes.”

Mr Neary said the Federation of Labour’s protest action had been against the bill before it was passed and there had been no proposal of active opposition against the bill once it became law. Mr Stewart, said Mr Neary, had let his imagination run away with him and his statements had been “very inflammatory, very extravagant.” Mr Stewart said that at two Christchurch factories workers had been called on strike recently without being given an opportunity to vote on the matter.

Mr Neary said that there might be isolated cases of this happening but the rules of every union provided for secret ballots before strike action was taken.

The programme ended with Mr Stewart saying that he believed in the right of workers to strike and with Mr Neary saying that strike action should be taken only as a last resort.