Kawerau dispute

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 20

Kawerau dispute

Sir, — Kawerau is a New Zealand town threatened by the intransigence of a company demanding that its workers give up all control of their work place and conditions, i.e., control of their lives. Purchase of plant overseas out of profits generated in New Zealand enables the company to take this position.. Through subsidies, in infra-struc-ture development (cheap electricity) in cheap forest products, or in subsidies, the New Zealand taxpayer has paid for those profits. New Zealanders cannot tolerate this shift in company operations overseas at the expense of all New Zealanders. The Labour Government should nationalise this plant immediately and have it recommence operation to benefit all New Zealanders not just a few majority stockholders. — Yours, etc., STEPHEN HOWARD. September 8, 1986.

Sir, — M. C. Schofield (September 8) was over-generous: less than 300 pulp and paper workers voted not to return to work on Tasman’s terms. This small minority has, accordingly, put paid to the jobs of 1800 other workers and has placed the future of Kawerau town in jeopardy. M. C. Schofield also asked: “Why?” It is simple. Late nineteenth century “Red Fed” rhetoric still flourishes and continues to be eagerly swallowed by the unthinking and the gullible. I fail to equate the old cry of “union bashing” with wages of around $BOO a week, and workers’ rental housing subsidised by Tasman. I am wondering what has happened to the extra $5 a week levied on the workers since early January for “welfare,” and recently reported to have amounted to something like $64,000? — Yours, etc., L. A. H. BOGREN. September 9, 1986.