Mr Brooks praised for restraint

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32708, 10 September 1971, Page 1

Mr Brooks praised for restraint

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 9. A new candidate is being considered for the post of chief industrial mediator.

In a statement tonight the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) said that it was “understandable” that Mr B .T. Brooks had withdrawn his application for the job “in view of the criticism made of him.” “He has behaved with retraint under considerable provocation,” said Mr Marshall. “I had not ruled out the appointment of Mr Brooks,” he said. “I think he could have done the job, but he has had only one year’s practical experience of industrial matters. I would have liked someone more experienced for chief industrial mediator. “I have approached such a man,” he said. "And the Employers’ Federation and the Federation of Labour have been asked to consider this appointment. “If that appointment is made it should be announced next week.” The Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) should ensure that “faction fights” within the Government did not continue at the expense 6f public' interest. The call was made in a notice of motion in Parliament today by Mr N. V. Douglas (Auckland Central). This noted a newspaper report which referred to the industrial mediator question. In it the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) was asked why he considered it unwise to comment while the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) was discussing the question freely. Mr Marshall repled: "I have the responsibility of dealing with this issue because I have to behave responsibly.” Mr Douglas’s motion recorded concern that “the leadership struggle in the

National Party should have resulted in a senior minister acknowledging publicly that there had been undue delay in naming a mediator and plainly implying that another senior colleague, the Minister of Finance, has been behaving irresponsibly.” Two other Opposition members also gave notice of motions critical of Mr Muldoon. Mr S. A. Whitehead (Nelson) called on the Prime Minister to indicate whether Mr Marshall still had his support and confidence as Minister of Labour. Mr E. E. Isbey (Grey Lynn) noted that the Victoria University National Party Club had deplored the “interference of Mr Muldoon in the Labour portfolio,” He called on Sir Keith Holyoake to get Mr Muldoon to act “responsibly in the public interest.” The National Party was in the grip of a “vicious fac-

tional fight” and seemed powerless to improve industrial relations, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said today. (Other references, Pages 3 and 12.)