Marsden refining will resume despite dispute

Press, 15 October 1982, Page 6

Marsden refining will resume despite dispute

PA Auckland The Marsden Point oil refinery is due to resume production in six weeks, irrespective of whether the present industrial dispute blocks all work during the maintenance shut-down. Fears had been expressed by the Minister of Energy, Mr Birch, that disruption of the maintenance programme could extend the shut-down period and raise New Zealand’s imported fuel bill $11.5 million a month. . But the New Zealand Re-, fining Company said yesterday: “Regardless of the amount of maintenance work done by the end of November. it is intended to start the refinery up again then. “If no maintenance work has been done it will be operating below peak efficiency and this will mean some fuels will need to be imported to supplement the reduced output,” the company said. "A further shut-down would then be essential early next year.” A company spokesman, Mr Neville Milne, said there was no danger in restarting the refinery with the maintenance not done. “It just means it would not run as efficiently,” he said. The president of the Federation of Labour, Mr Wi J. Knox, said in Wellington yes-

terday that he had talked to Mr Milne and given an undertaking to speak to the unions 'concerned. Mr Knox said that if he considered it worth while he would see the company after his discussions with the unions, which cover boilermakers, engineers, labourers, electricians, drivers, and carpenters. The refinery site was quiet yesterday with the company, the Government and the unions in a face-off over the wage freeze. The stationary engine

drivers, boilermakers, and engineers’ unions have refused to discuss a work agreement for the maintenance shut-down until a two-year-old relativity issue between refinery operators and tradesmen is settled. In Parliament yesterday, Labour’s spokesman on labour, Mr F. M. Gerbic, gave notice of motion calling on the Minister, Mr Bolger, to resign over the Marsden Point dispute. He said Mr Bolger had abrogated his Ministerial responsibilities by not acting decisively.