Mr Knox criticises Marsden report

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 4

Mr Knox criticises Marsden report

PA Wellington The Federation of Labour’s president, Mr Jim Knox, has given gave the thumbs down to the Marsden Point report. Mr Knox said that he was “disappointed” with Dr Martyn Finlay, Q.C., who conducted the inquiry into industrial relations at the site. The inquiry had cost the federation $250,000. Mr Knox said he was not “impressed” with the findings. . He had expected Dr Finlay to recommend the scrapping of legislation introduced by the National Government last year with

the Whangarei Refinery Expansion Project Disputes Act. “But it is still there on the Statute Books.” Mr Knox described as a soft option the recommendation that a secret ballot be taken among workers at the site to ascertain their views on the Act. The federation would meet Marsden Point union officials and delegates to discuss the report. It was possible that the federation might be asked“to give support to some form of protest,” he said.