Employers and workers ‘being held apart’

Press, 21 April 1984, Page 6

Employers and workers ‘being held apart’

PA Auckland Employers and workers are being held apart by misguided legislation, according to Sir Thomas Skinner, the former president of the Federation of Labour. He told a meeting in Auckland that the whole system of playing one section of the community against another was wrong, “although it may seem a good election tactic.” “It is outdated, a hangover from ideas which can no longer apply if we are building a modern, dynamic economy based on the cooperative effort of the whole community,” said Sir Thomas. “At present, employers and workers have different aims and are being held apart by misguided legislation,” he said.

“Legislate it may, threaten it will, but the Government is now hoist with its own petard. “Compulsory or noncompulsory unionism will not add one iota to that which all should be seeking — greater understanding and co-operation devoid of confrontations, and agreed procedures that will provide equitable solutions to prob-

lems.” Sir Thomas criticised recent loans raised outside New Zealand for such projects as the electrification of the North Island Main Trunk railway. “I am not against borrowing money but it should only be for capital expansion, and then we should only borrow from overseas banking and financial institutions to raise money to spend overseas in importing the necessary raw materials. “But money spent in New Zealand should surely, common sense dictates, be raised in New Zealand.”