Striker's Stipulate Return Of Communist To Work

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 April 1948, Page 2

Striker's Stipulate Return Of Communist To Work

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 4. Eight hundred and eighty workers who have been on strike at Mangakino since March 12 will go back to work if a tribunal is set up to settle the dispute, but only if Mr L. Clapham, the Communist secretary of the local branch of the Workers’ Union, can return to work with them pending the tribunal’s decision. The Public Works Department’s decision to transfer Mr Clapham to Auckland led to the strike. The recommendation that the men should accept a tribunal came from the Federation of Labour. It was put to them at a general meeting of the union this morning. The meeting ended Shortly before the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) and the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) began to address a public meeting at the camp.

The men have agreed to return to work as soon as advice is received from Wellington that a tribunal will be established, but no indication could be given in Mangakino as to whether the stipulation that Mr Clapham should return with them would be accepted. An outspoken attack on the Communist movement in New Zealand, and particularly its tactics in trade union affairs, was delivered by Mr Fraser and Mr Semple when they addressed the public meeting in a hall this afternoon. About 400 men and women packed the hall, and some stood outside to hear the addresses through a public address system. Interjections and concerted heckling occurred, but most of the audience listened attentively.