TYRES FOR CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 4

TYRES FOR CARS

TRADE UNION SECRETARIES DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug.' 13. “It seems that some members are living in an unreal world and do not realise the existing conditions,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr D. G. Sullivan, when replying in the House of Representatives to-day to Opposition criticism of the methods of issuing motor vehicle tyres. He said they had made their complaints apparently on the assumption that there were plenty of tyres to distribute. Mr W. S. Goosman (Oppn., Waikato) said he wanted to see-a simpler system for dealing with applications. The present involved system was merely a way “of passing the buck ” that bordered on the ridiculous. Mr W. J. Poison (Oppn., Stratford) interjected that preferential treatment was being given to trade union secretaries.

The Minister: Are you'' suggesting that there is discrimination?

Mr Poison: I do suggest that most emphatically. I personally know a case where a secretary got a new set of tyres after the local committee had rejected his application. My own application for recapping was approved by the committee, but it stopped at that.

Supplies of tyres to trade union secretaries had almost become an obsession with some members, replied the Minister. The supply to secretaries was based on the part which they played in maintaining industrial production and harmony. An Opposition member: What do they produce? Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Oppn., Waitomo) • Trouble. The Minister said the basis he had mentioned was the only principle of issue for tyres that he knew of. If members preferred a single authority set up in place of the present democratic method of committees, on which all interests were represented, then that could be considered by Parliament. The Government was making further efforts to secure from overseas additional supplies of motor car tyres. The, position in regard to car tyres was very strained at the moment. Mr H. Miller, who had previously made a successful visit overseas, had again left on the Government’s instructions to see what supplies could be obtained, but he feared that the outlook was not Very hopeful.