TVNZ denial of walk-out set-up

Press, 23 November 1983, Page 8

TVNZ denial of walk-out set-up

Television New Zealand has denied suggestions, that a walk-out from the Industrial Law Reform select committee hearing in Christchurch on Monday was set up for the benefit of television cameras outside. A group of trade unionists stormed out of the hearing an hour before it was to end when the chairman, Mr C. B. Townshend, the member of Parliament for Kaimai, ruled that the final three submissions would be heard together. Two Government representatives on the committee, Messrs P. R. Burdon (Fendalton) and J. A. Banks (Whangarei), yesterday suggested that this walk-out might have been staged for the benefit of television cameras outside, but this has been denied by the head of TVNZ News, Mr Graeme Wilson. “Television News was unaware that any walk-out was to take place,” he said. “It would not be and was not part of any arrangement of that kind.”

The television reporter who covered the walk-out, Bill Simpson, said he and the camera crew had been at the Civic Chambers where the hearing took place to report on another matter which had arisen out of submissions to the committee in the morning. Representatives of the New Zealand Baking Trades

Employees’ Union had submitted that by denying trade union officials free access to workplaces, the bill could also affect the work of the Health and Labour Departments, who were often assisted by union officials, Mr Simpson, said. The camera crew had taken film of a baker’s shop and was filming the council chamber. It was coincidental that the crew was there when the trade unionists walked out. He first became aware of the argument when he went into the committee room to speak to a person who had made submissions, he said. Mr Wilson said TVNZ had not made any approach to Messrs Burdon or Banks about their comments and did not think any legal action would be taken. The secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council, Mr G. G. Walker, also denied that the walk-out was prearranged. The secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Engineers’ Union, Mr R. J. Todd, said the reason some trade unionists had shouted

‘farce” during the hearing was that Mr Townshend had made an incorrect ruling on a motion. Mr Todd, who was an observer, said that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr Palmer, had moved that the committee allow an extension of time. The three Labour members voted for the motion, as did one of the National members of Parliament, Mr D. A. Angus (Wallace), giving the affirmative a majority, he said. “Mr Angus definitelyopened his mouth and said ‘aye,’ and we had at least three witnesses who saw the same thing,” said Mr Todd.

Mr Jim Simcock, an organiser, with the branch, was sitting opposite Mr Angus, but several paces to his right. He said, “I had a bird’s-eye view of him and he voted for the motion.” But when “The Press” asked Mr Angus if the statements were true, he replied, “Of course I never voted for Geoff Palmer’s motion.” Mr Townshend said in Wellington last evening that the issue was “not even worth commenting on.”