Teachers’ unionist activities criticised

Press, 25 August 1976, Page 2

Teachers’ unionist activities criticised

Staff reporter Wellington The Prime Minister ((Mr Muldoon) told the I Post Primary Teachers’ I Association yesterday ■that he was not very 'enthusiastic about its (trade-union activities. (He was opening the (association’s three-day i conference in Weiling- | ton. I The education lobby was large and diverse, but was not the most balanced of the pressure groups which sought to influence Government decisions and activity. i Most New Zealanders recognised and accepted that it had been a difficult year for the country. From their public utterances and actions of the association’s officers, he was not sure they had accorded this the recognition that might have been expected from a group of intelligent people. “The reason for public misunderstanding about the cuts in Government spending, of course, was the shrill, even hysterical outcry

from what I would broadly i term the education lobby, ofi which this organisation is ai part,” Mr Muldoon said. “in general, the education lobby seems to work on the principle that the squeaking wheel gets most grease. That -I principle is not accepted by | this Government, and indeed I will not be finally accepted (by most governments of any ‘experience. "A more valid principle, in terms of Government reaction. is that the more extravagant the • representa- ; tions, the less effect they will have.” .i The days when New Zealand politicians jumped at 'every word that was uttered i by the leader of a pressure ■group had gone. “On the professional side, • I your association has some (considerable achievements to ■fits credit, but on what I I would term the trade-union (I side, 1 am much less enthusiastic about your activities. “And that is not because of any anti-union bias, but; simply on the basis of your! : performance. As you know II ■'have been able this year to' (commend the attitude of the! ■(mainstream of trade union-j lists.” i

! It was a time for all those jin a position to influence ( public opinion to face the (unpalatable facts, and then I pull together, “so that we' (may get over our difficulties' (and return to normal.” j Anyone who read the I headlines and did not take (the trouble to look at the (detail would say that educa-i jtion spending had been' (slashed. But education had' (received one of the largest; (percentage increases in (funds: 10.5 per cent compared with an average in-' crease in the estimates of! 4.8 per cent. This amounted to an increase of S66M. Two-thirds of the vote was absorbed in salaries. However, because of the wage (freeze, education spending (would be maintained in real (terms. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) told the conference that the Labour Government last year had (voted $71,6M for new prim■ary and secondary school 'buildings, and actual exipenditure was considerably (higher. This year, this vote [was $.71.7M, which, with (present inflation, meant that (effectively there was a 20 Iper cent cut.