DISCLOSURES BY MINISTER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14367, 17 May 1947, Page 3

DISCLOSURES BY MINISTER

ATM TO REMOVE MR McLAGAN

Attempt Made By Watersiders

Union Delegates Shown The Door

P.A. ' Wellington, May 17. The fact that at the meeting of the waterside workers' delegates with the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers yesterday a request had been received from the union which in effect would mean the setting aside and ultimate removal of himself as Minister of Labour was mentioned by Mr McLagan in the course of a statement issued last night. "The Prime Minister had replied that he and his colleagues had full confidence in me, and that confidence had never been greater than at present," the Minister added. Mr McLagan also confirmed a recent report that, following a discussion with members of the national executive of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, he had shown them the door.

During the discussion the national president, Mr H. Barnes, had described the Government's proposal for the establishment of a waterfront commission of four members as not genuine, the Minister said. He had taken exception to this remark and had asked Mr Barnes to repeat it, whereupon he asked his secretary to open the door, and the delegates left the room. The Minister added that when the representatives of the watersiders arrived to meet him on April 30 they brought a. stenographer with them to take a report of the proceedings. He, had told them that this was contrary to all custom and he could not agree to it. He had then been accused of star chamber methods.