Labour split threatened

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 6

Labour split threatened

By

MIKE HANNAH

A debate on the Federation of- Labour’s role in the present dispute ing threatened to split the Labour Party . regional conference in Blenheim at the week-end./:' The Rebate was started by an urgent remit, moved by, a Labourers* Union delegate (Mr PjtfeiPiesse) at the end of the ’first day of the con-ference-on Saturday. . Mr Piesse asked that “this conference endorses the democratic right of workers to picket? in the course of iinuii,.’.rial disputes, urges that the Industrial Relations Act be amended to provide legal -protection for this right, and congratulates the F.O.L. on its role in the present dispute over picketing.”

It was Mr Piesse’s approve al of-the F.O.L.’s role in the dispute which caused an up* roar on the conference floor. 1 ' Sir Basil ’Arthur, M.P.' for Timaru, countered with his own motion, that the conference endorse the reported statement by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr, Row* ling), cdlling on the’strikers to return Co work. > Sir Basil argued fc.cefully Ihat there were rights and wrongs on both sides in .the Auckland dispute, and the conference could not close its,, eyes to one side of the dispute. '' . ; He considered it most unwise for the party to support the F.O.L. “at this stage.” Sir Basil, supported by the M.P. for Yaldhurst (Mr M. A. Connelly) and a branch

delegate, received loud applause for his stand. •■Mr Pjesse attacked .-Sir Basil’s motion, on the ground that it was motivated by a fear that the Labour Party would be seen to publicly support the F.O.L. He said however,. that he .was. asking the. „ conference to. support the?:-F.O.ws role in .lxringing the-dispute to a conclusion. .♦ “' This statement appeared to appeas? delegates, (who then supported both motions.' ' ' (y.: The Press Associatiott«reported from Whangarei- that the Labour Party’s Auckland regional conference at Whangarei. yesterday discussed the Government’s decision to use the Air Force to help airlift stranded airline passengers across the Tasman.

The conference passed a resolution which condemned the "inflammatory manner and timing” of; the decision and the lack bf consultation with the Federation of Labour before the decision was taken. y/.’ . '■*■ A‘second part of the remit said the conference also rec; < the “suffering: Jtof members - of public caught in the middle and the need to give'-theqi assist-* ance." '. ’ ' ’ “ The . issue had threatened to split the conference when an . earlier., remit, which bluntly condemned The .Qovt ernment'Wlift' aCtiijOWii. lost on a show- of hands. . The president of the Awkland branch of; the.;Engine eers’ Union, Mr J. J. Cruftimey, spoke against • both remits. ;