Minister speaks of concern about F.O.L. situation

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 2

Minister speaks of concern about F.O.L. situation

PA Wellington The Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) has expressed concern about the election of the Northern Drivers’ Union secretary, Mr G. H. Andersen, to the Federation of Labour National executive. Mr Bolger said yesterday that he was concerned that Mr Andersen was a well known, active Communist pursuing an ideology that had minimal support. Mr Andersen’s elevation to the national executive would give him a more senior platform from which to pursue those policies, Mr Bolger said.

“My concern is that of the average New Zealander. We do not like Communism and we do not particularly want people in a position where they can promote it more effectively, he said. Referring to the fact that Mr Andersen’s election doubled the Socialist Unity Party representation on the F.O.L. executive, Mr Bolger said that by any analysis of the minimal support S.U.P. candidates gained at a Gen-

eral Election, the S.U.P. was grossly over-represented on the executive. Asked if Mr Andersen's election would affect the Minister’s relationship with the F.0.L., Mr Bolger said that he had always adopted the approach that he must deal with whoever was elected on either side of the industrial fence. The election of Mr Andersen to the F.O.L. executive highlighted its emergence as the industrial political arm of the socialist forces, said Social Credit’s industrial relations spokesman, Mr David Howes, yesterday. “Workers are being used to promote the political aims of ultra-Left socialist movements. The present industrial structure is helping militant groups to g£in control of key councils and unions that control our economic stability,” Mr Howes said.

Urgent reform of industrial laws was needed, he said. Social Credit would introduce industrial councils as the active arm of workers’ representation.