MINISTER DENIES VICTIMISATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1948, Page 6

MINISTER DENIES VICTIMISATION

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 6. On his return from Mangakino today, the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) said it was being fairly widely circulated by Communists and fellow-travellers that he was the victimiser, but. there was no question of victimisation. The Public Works workers’ agreement of 1947 affecting relations of workmen with the department specifically gave the department the right of transfer, and, indeed, said Mr Semple, the department could not function efficiently if it did not have such a right. He could not conceive of any organisation operating under a state of affairs where it dicl not have the right of transfer of any of its employees for its convenience. Mr Semple stated that ■ from his own observations at Mangakino he was very disturbed to note that the bulk of the people who were at present on strike had no real knowledge of what they were striking for. The phrase “union principle” was being glibly passed round by a Communist clique on the job. There was no union principle involved. Mr Semple said that from his own observations he was convinced that, if a properly-conducted ballot were taken at the present time, the workmen would by a huge majority decide to go back to work. “The transfer of Mr Clapham was ordered by the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop) with my full knowledge and consent. Many workmen have been duped into this action and are being deprived of their livelihood simply because the department’s right io transfer one man was disputed.”