workers led to demands for union action. Although many unions went on strike, a serious crisis was averted. Skinner was criticised by several unions for his moderate stance, but a vote on his leadership at the FoL's 1976 conference showed he still had overwhelming support. Skinner's more moderate stance had the additional benefit that – while publicly opposed, Skinner and Muldoon (coincidentally the Member of Parliament for Skinner's old Tamaki seat) established a working relationship that allowed progress to be made on government industrial policy to both sides' benefit. Like Muldoon he had made his way by "hard work and brains. Now they lived round the street from each other in plush Tamaki. Both liked whisky and would happily conspire and connive over a weekend evening, amidst the fumes of Scotch." Skinner retired in 1979 and was replaced by the more militant Jim Knox. Knox's style led to a sidelining of Skinner, though he retained an involvement with the NZ Shipping Corporation until the 1980s. After his wife died in 1985, he spent his time largely out of the public spotlight. Sir Tom died on 11 November 1991 in Auckland. Activities outside the union movement Skinner was heavily involved in many community organisations, most notably the St John Ambulance Association, but also among them the Royal New Zealand Coastguard and the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. He was also a director of private radio station Radio Pacific. Skinner was deputy chairman of the St John Ambulance Association's Auckland branch from 1958 to 1973 and chairman from 1973 to 1989. His sporting interests included yachting, cricket, and considerable involvement as a rugby league referee and administrator, and he managed the Kiwis' tour to Britain in 1960. A member of the Priory of St John in New Zealand, Skinner was made a Knight of the Order of St John in 1970 for his contribution to the St John's Ambulance Association. In the 1976 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the trade union movement and the community. Skinner's autobiography, Man to Man (co-written by John Berry), was published by Whitcoulls in 1980. Notes References 1909 births 1991 deaths People from Mangaweka New Zealand trade unionists New Zealand Labour Party MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates People from Auckland New Zealand