Stabilisation talks to continue today

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32635, 17 June 1971, Page 1

Stabilisation talks to continue today

flTev Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 16. Executive members of the Federation of Labour spent two hours and a quarter with the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) and other Ministers this afternoon, discussing the situation arising from the Government’s invoking the mandatory provisions of the Stabilisation of Remuneration Act.

Later, the president of the federation (Mr T. E. Skinner) had no comment to make except that the meeting was adjourned until 1.30 p.m. tomorrow without a decision being taken. During the early part of the discussions, representatives of the wine and spirit employers were present, as one of the parties to. the dispute in Auckland involving the Northern Drivers Union and the Storemen and Packers Union. But they also had no comment to make.

The refusal, of the two unions to suspend their wage agreement, which had an increase above 7 per cent, caused the Government to invoke the provisions. Later the members of the i Remuneration Authority also i had talks with the Ministers, i who included the Acting Minister of Labour (Mr Thomi son) the Minister of Finance > (Mr Muldoon) and the Min- > ister of Education (Mr Tali boys. The authority mem. , bers also would make no • comment. : [ UNION SUPPORT > The two Auckland unions i are receiving telegrams from all parts of the country in support of their stand against I the Government One Auckland union leader i said today that the issue now i was what action would be itaken against the. Govi ment’s move. i Union officials are now convinced that a national conference of the F.O.L. will be t held next week to discuss : action. Some have tentatively ! booked airline seats to Weii lington for next Thursday.

The Auckland Trades Council, which will meet tomorrow night is expected to support the call for a national conference. "Action talk, is rampant here,” said one union leader. “It’s obvious the Government’s action is arousing wide feeling.” The Northern Drivers’ Union secretary (Mr G. H. Andersen) said a telegram was received from the Remuneration Authority yesterday, asking the union to meet it today. He said he had advised the authority that it was not practicable to meet today, but the telegram had been referred to the F.O.L. executive. The union would be prepared to meet the authority if the executive recommends this. MR KIRK CRITICISED Trade unionists in Auckland are upset by comments made in Parliament last night by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk). "A;tot of men won’t like him ; saying they should observe, the wage legislation," said one unionist.

s “He will lose a lot of sup- '* porters over this,” said ® another. n Mr Kirk’s statements suri prised a number of workers - who axe Labour Party sup--1 porters. “There are those who will see some conflict be- ;’ tween the Federation of L Labour executive and Mr a Kirk’s attitudes,” said one t union official. t TEST" OF UNIONS [. In Wellington, the Mint ister of Finance (Mr Mult doon) said the trade union i movement was being tested ~ by the Stabilisation of i Remuneration Act e He told the annual confere ence of the New Zealand Building Societies* Association that Parliament had been unanimous in passing the act, :• and it was now a matter of s whether unions were pret pared to fall into line with i- the law and the wishes of the people. e “I can’t see what’s going d to happen in the industrial ” field, but the law must be operated,” he said.