'Few militants,’ says F.O.L. secretary

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 2

'Few militants,’ says F.O.L. secretary

<N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 7. The Government itself had a few members, including the Austra-lian-born Minister of Labour (Mr Watt), who had come from overseas and set down roots in New Zealand, and surely Mr Moyle did not suggest that these men in the Government were also troublemakers, the secretary of the F.O.L. (Mr W. J. Knox) said in a statement today. He was replying to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Moyle), who said to Federated Farmers at Rotorua on Friday that there were troublemakers in strategic areas in the trade union movement, and that he advised unions to look closely at the question of overseas domination. Mr Knox said there were many organisations in the country with people from the United Kingdom, Australia, and other Commonwealth and foreign countries at their helms. “Does he also suggest they are troublemakers?” he asked. Mr Knox said the number of people of overseas origin in the administrative ranks of trade unions was small. Also, few of these could be classed among the militants. “Most of us are Kiwis,” he said. "As far as the F.O.L. is

concerned, when a person comes in from overseas and joins a trade union, then he is a trade unionist. “Trade unions are free and democratic organisations, and it is the rank and file who determine the leadership,” said Mr Knox. He said that in regard to big overseas combines entering the industrial field in New Zealand, . the trade union movement had made its protest and stated its attitude, which was in line with the Government’s election policy in 1972.

“If these big combines manage to get a hold in New Zealand, then trade unions will cease to be free and democratic. We know this as a fact, and have seen it happen in other countries. “But once a man is a trade unionist he is entitled to participate in union activities at any level. Whether or not he does depends on the rank and file members. “Mr Moyle can be assured that the trade union movement is not controlled by one or two members — everyone participates,” Mr Knox said.