Catholic Action

Date: 4, 5, August 1998 - 04 Aug 1998 - 05 Aug 1998

From: Trade union oral history project

By: Grant, Steve, 1934-

Reference: OHInt-0478/37

Description: Steve Grant born Scotland, arrived in New Zealand 1947. Recalls apprenticeship as an electrician with Union Steam Ship Company. Describes working life on ships before joining the Otahuhu workshops. Talks about union activities at the workshops and how he became General Secretary of the Railway Tradesmen's Association. Recalls introduction of Amenity Blocks. Discusses progression through the union ranks and the role of the RTA; compulsory unionism; branch relationship with union executive; Catholic Action Group at Otahuhu workshops to counter communist influence; Muldoon electioneering in Otahuhu workshops; strength of apprentices during World War II; 1952 Railway strike; working conditions in the Railways during the late 1950s and 1960s and reaction of RTA to new technology. Mentions the introduction of female apprentices into Railway workshops and some of the resulting problems. Mentions Doug Crosado, Ray Gough, Bill Higgins, Harry Taylor, Allan Goldsmith, Richard Prebble and [Brian] Talboys. Discusses the Combined State Services Organisation and the Ruling Rate Survey in relation to Railway Officers Institute. Explains the relationship with Locomotive Engineers' Association, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants / National Union of Railwaymen (employees), New Zealand Engineers' Union and Federation of Labour. Talks about formation of joint union-management scheme - Employees Assistance Programme and its introduction within the Railways. Other topics recalled include: health and safety issues; concerns over asbestos; wage freeze by Kirk Goverment; Compulsory Medical Retirement in 1972; relationship between RTA and Accident Compensation Corporation; education programmes; RTA Journal; Federation of Labour Transport Union Committee; RTA protest over Vietnam War; opposition of Otahuhu branch to Springbok rugby tours; support for international strikes; strike in Twizel; campaign for allowances for apprentices; 1966 strike; Save the Rail Campaign; Employment Contracts Act (1991): sale of New Zealand Rail, with reference to Wisconsin Rail and Ruth Richardson. Mentions Jack Marshall, Tom Skinner, Norris Collins, Trevor Gebbie, Ken Douglas, F P Walsh, Norman Kirk, Koro Wetere. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Shaun Ryan Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007578-007582 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4.11 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1914.

Date: 7-14 December 1998 - 07 Dec 1998 - 14 Dec 1998

From: Trade union oral history project

By: Jacobs, David, 1927-

Reference: OHInt-0478/34

Description: David Jacobs born Auckland 1927. Gives some family background - parents from England. Recalls leaving school aged 14 years; first job in the office of Dominion Dental Supplies; being manpowered to Westfield Freezing Works, remaining manpowered after the war; joining Clerical Workers in 1950. Talks about: disbanding Labour Youth League; Conscription Referendum; Peace and Anti Conscription Campaign. Mentions Dick Barter, Arthur Herring and Jeff Turner. Describes progression through union, becoming Secretary of Auckland Clerical Workers Union (CWU) in 1961 and Workers Representative Arbitration Court in 1978. Other topics discussed include: Equal Pay Commission; Processors Union; Motion Picture Projectionists Union; CWU Arbitration case conducted by Des Nolan; ousting of F P Walsh; Auckland Public Accounts Union; role played by women members, with reference to Mary Batchelor, Elizabeth Tennet and Sonya Davies; education programmes; CWU reaction to international events with reference to Vietnam War; efforts to incorporate computer technology; memories of Tony Neary; recollections of Federation of Labour (FOL); Communist element in CWU; Muldoon era; wage freeze; compulsory unionism; CWU bargaining strategy; history of Arbitration System; Retailers Association and late nights in Christmas Act; 1977 Industrial Commission case; General Wage Order Application. People mentioned include: Peter Butler; Ian Still; Brian Brook; Reatha McInnes; Charlie Jamieson; Syd Jackson; Frank Thompson; Des and Margaret Nolan; James Wattie; Ian McKay; Peter Luxford; Elizabeth Morris; Hugh Campbell; Arthur Herring; Margaret Flanagan Connie Purdue; Ted Blacker; Charlie Hunter; Charlie Dawson; Ken Baxter; Jock Barnes; Dave Morgan; Ken Douglas; Tom Skinner; Jim Knox; Sid Wheatley; Graeme Ogilvie; Sid Wheatley; Terry Gallagher; Rod Trott; Chris Harder and Brian Seddon. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Shaun Ryan Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007564-007568 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4.50 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1911.

Date: 24, 25 March 1999

From: Trade union oral history project

By: Matthews, Edward Cecil, 1915-2007

Reference: OHInt-0478/36

Description: Edward (Ted) Cecil Matthews born Pongaroa 1915. Gives a little family background - no history of unionism in family. Parents from England, father a fan of `King Dick Seddon'. Recalls family were first pioneers at Pongaroa. Describes early work experience and Depression and experiences while working for Wills Tobacco Company in Wellington. Discusses involvement with the Communist Party (NZCP). Mentions Disputes Committee with reference to F P Walsh. Recalls working at Railway workshops. Mentions opposition to compulsory unionism and views of NZEU. Mentions Jock Hunter, Dick Burnand, Jim Neale, Noel Gibson and W H Entwistle. Recounts memory of Nelson Waterside Workers Union. Other recollections include: Communist cell in NECO; support of Maori; involvement in New Zealand Engineers Union (NZEU); Cables Engineering; Equal Pay; Ford motor assembly plant and attitude of management at Fords; major strikes; splits within NZCP; Catholic Action. Other people mentioned include: Bert Tonks, Jack Leggat, Des Dalgety, Roy Waddison, Mary McNulty, Ginger Southwood, Peter Butler, Toby Hill, Arthur Quinn, Trevor Gebbie, Jock Barnes, Lou Glover, Nugget Walner, Gordon Watson, Sid Scott, Harold Silverstone, Bill Bland, Rona Bailey, Connie and Archie Birchfield, Jack Manson, Tommy and Mary Heptinstall, Max Bollinger and Bill Oliver. Interviewer(s) - Shaun Ryan Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007574-007577 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.40 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1913. Search dates: 1999

Date: 18 Mar 2000

From: CORSO 50th anniversary oral history project

By: Consedine, Robert Anthony, 1942-

Reference: OHInt-0504/04

Description: Robert Anthony Consedine born Christchurch 1942. Outlines family background - working class Irish catholics from large families. Recalls being trained to be involved in community and with a strong sense of justice. Describes: school days at Addington Convent; sporting activities; childhood jobs and Catholic School system. Recalls on leaving St Bede's College going to work in Insurance Office for 4 years and National Service for 4 years and gives details of activities at Waiouru. Other topics discussed include: involvement with Catholic Youth Movement (YCW); Lay Apostolate, with reference to Bishop Brian Ashby; travel experience; work for St Vincent de Paul; organiser for CORSO; exposure to liberation movements; visit of Tissa Balisuriya from Sri Lanka in 1972; involvement with agency for The New Internationalist [development magazine]; trip to Asia with John Curnow in 1973; visit of Dennis Brutus, a South African poet to New Zealand; HART, with reference to Trevor Richards; involvement with non-violent direct action training, with reference to George Lakey and socio-drama; involvement with formation of group known as `Action against the tour'; Women's Movement; experience as house husband while wife, Trish, went out to work; court action against [Robert] Muldoon and Norm Jones; publishing of book `New Zealand 1984 Ltd'; feelings on leaving CORSO, with reference to Toby Truell; local parish community, with reference to Kevin Burns (Parish Priest); fight on electricity issue, aiming to create a national debate about price of electricity in proportion to income, and demonstrating the power of community, referring to visit to Christchurch from Bill Birch; Communism, with reference to North Korea; interest in alternatives to Capitalism; Work with Presbyterian Support Services; Project Waitangi, workshops and involvement with Nga Tahu and Irihapeti Ramsden. Talks about daughter's (Suzanne) death while on a training course at Outward Bound School, family's reaction, support from friends, funeral and result of inquest. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Cecily McNeill Accompanying material - Article on report into death of Suzannah Consedine during an Outward Bound programme Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-011173-011178; OHLC-005460-005465 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4.10 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3909. 2 coloured photographs of Robert Consedine 18-3-2000