WORKERS’ VIEWS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22588, 17 March 1948, Page 6

WORKERS’ VIEWS

STRIKE REGULATIONS STABILISATION ISSUE FURTHER TALKS DECIDED (P-A.) WELLINGTON, March 17. Steps approved by the national council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour towards securing the repeal of the strikes and lock-outs emergency regulations, a review of stabilisation, and to prevent employers from placing a “blanket” on wage increases above award minimums were reported by the secretary of the federation, Mr. K. McL. Baxter. Mr. Baxter reported that the following decisions were made by the council at its meeting this week:

The council carried a motiotr moved by Mr. G. S. Ray (Timaru), seconded by Mr. R. Fulton (Taranaki), proposing that the council make representations to the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, and the Minister of Justice, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, for the remission of fines inflicted on the Carpenters’ Union sentativesMargin of One Vote Mr. A. Drennan (Auckland), moved. Mr. Lindley (Gisborne) seconded, a motion that the national council request the repeal of the strikes and lock-outs regulations. Mr. Fulton moved, Mr. R. P. Smith (Waikato) seconded, an amendment that the council refer the question of the repeal of the strikes and lock-outs regulations to the annual conference of the federation for consideration and a report by an appropriate committee. This amendment was carried by 12 votes to 11. The council decided on the motion of Mr. Brennan, seconded by Mr. Fulton, that all affiliations and trades councils be. circularised calling on them to move at the annual conference for the repeal of the strikes and lock-outs regulations. Carpenters’ Dispute

On the motion of Mr. W. H. Little (Southland), seconded by Mr. Ray, the national executive was instructed to make known to the Government the council’s instruction that the strikes and lock-outs regulations be discussed at the next annual conference of the federation and to request that the meeting of the Parliamentary committee be arranged to allow the opinion of the conference to be taken into consideration. On the motion of Mr. Drennan, seconded by Mr. W. A. Fox (Wellington) the council endorsed the attitude of the national executive towards the prosecution of employers involved in the carpenters’ dispute in Christchurch and authorised the executive to make further urgent representations to the Government “calling attention to the detrimental effect of the prosecutions in the interests of wage workers in general and the incentive held out to some employers to place a “blanket” on wage increases above the minimum rates.” The council decided on the motion of Mr. R. Mclntyre (Otago), seconded by Mr. J. Doyle (West Coast), that the question of the abolition of the economic stabilisation emergency regulations be referred to the annual conference for consideration and the attention of affiliations be drawn to the question.