Mr Kirk’s wage talks with F.O.L.

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 3

Mr Kirk’s wage talks with F.O.L.

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 6.

The abolition of the Remuneration Authority would be on the agenda of Labour’s first Cabinet meeting next Monday, said the Prime Minister-elect (Mr? Kirk) today.

Speaking after a twohour meeting with the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) and members of the national executive, Mr Kirk reiterated that the authority would be abolished “before Christmas.” Mr Kirk described the meeting as very amicable, and said it covered a number of wide-ranging issues, including the Remuneration Authority, full employment, the Industrial Relations Bill, and future industrial relations. Mr Kirk said that the F.O.L. had given an assurance that it would co-operate to ensure a “stable base” for the Government’s policies. No replacement The discussions had also covered what would happen after the Remuneration Authority was abolished. Mr Skinner added that applications not dealt with by the authority would go straight to the Arbitration Court. Where the authority had altered an agreement, it would be up to the union concerned to renegotiate with the employers. Mr Kirk said there would be no replacement body for the authority. It was imposed over the Arbitration Court and would go out of business. The court would reassume its proper role. The authority, knowing it was going to be eliminated, should busy itself tidying up administrative matters instead of making progress with matters in the pipeline. There would be free bar-

gaining between employers and unions but he did not anticipate any upsurge in wage demands. Most of the major awards had already been renegotiated, said Mr Kirk. Employment The question of full employment was also discussed, Mr Kirk said, and the F.O.L. had promised to co-operate to ensure that there were jobs for school-leavers. Sittings of the Select Committee studying the Industrial Relations Bill were also discussed. Mr Kirk said he hoped the committee might meet in January so that the bill could be reported back to Parliament early in the session. Asked whether the bill’s provisions for dealing with political strikes had been discussed today, Mr Kirk said that only the calling together of the committee had been discussed. “We want a good bill which the F.O.L. and the Employers’ Federation feel they can co-operate with,” Mr Kirk said. “I don’t want to prejudge the committee’s deliberations but we want to get improvements in indus-

trial law as soon as possible.”

Mr Skinner said the F.O.L. would present submissions on the bill and hoped that it would be among the first subjects to be dealt with by the new Parliament. Mr Kirk said he had not advised the F.O.L. who would be the new Minister of Labour; the announcement would be made on Friday. Mr Skinner, asked whether he had stated a preference for who should have the job replied: “I wouldn’t be so presumptuous.” Mr Kirk added: ’“Besides, It would be too late.” Mr Skinner said the F.O.L. wanted to meet the new Minister to discuss such topics as equal pay, workers’ compensation, and restraining programmes to ensure full employment. He said he realised that nothing urgent could be done on these matters because they involved legislation. “Good will” Mr Kirk said that the Employers’ Federation would meet the Minister of Labour next week and he was pleased that it had also offered its co-operation on the Industrial Relations Bill. He would be happy to meet it, too. There was considerable good will for the Government from both sides, Mr Kirk said, and he wanted to make this co-operation secure. He believed that wage-set-ting procedures would proceed on an orderly base and there would be a return to the stable situation of some years ago. “Only when there was large-scale interference did we get away from stability,” said Mr Kirk.