Reply to Mr Muldoon

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32706, 8 September 1971, Page 18

Reply to Mr Muldoon

(NJ. Prut Association) WELLINGTON, Sept 7. Mr E. E. Isbey (Lab., Grey Lynn) a former president of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, replied in Parliament tonight to allegations he said had been made by the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) on the N.Z.B.C.’s television programme, “Gal. lery.”

Mr Isbey was given leave to make a personal statement. He said that Mr Muldoon bad described him as a militant trade union leader when answering questions

about the non-appointment of Mr B. Brooks, the industrial relations manager of Alex Harvey Industries, Ltd, as an industrial mediator.

Mr Isbey said he had never accepted the terms of “militant” or “moderate” trade union leader.

“I have always attempted to be a good trade unionist and act in ■ responsible was demonstrated in I his record as 12 years as Auckland president of the Waterside Workers' Union and 11 years as national leader, he added. Mr Muldoon had asserted that he had introduced Mr Brooks to the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner), Mr Isbey said. “That is completely incorrect. I have never introduced

Brian Brooks to Mr Skinner." He had no knowledge that Mr Brooks wanted the job as mediator, he said. He had been approached by a representative of Alex Harvey Industries and asked for his opinion of Mr Brooks. “It is true that I did recommend Mr Brooks for his appointment to Alex Harvey." MINISTER'S STATMENT Mr Muldoon also was given leave to make, a statement later in the evening. He said that the remark he made about Mr Isbey’s militancy was not his own statement but a quotation from an article in the “Auckland Star” of July 29, 1970.

Mr Muldoon said that he also stated that whether or not Mr Isbey was a militant was a matter of opinion.