The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1948. WAIKATO HYDRO WORKS DISPUTE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22585, 13 March 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1948. WAIKATO HYDRO WORKS DISPUTE

\yTFH the information available, it is hard to comment with a satisfactory degree of forthrightness on the industrial trouble which has halted work on the Waikato hydro-electric schemes. At the moment of writing the point of view of neither the Government nor the engineers has been put before, the public in anything like the detail characterising the statement issued by the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Before dogmatic judgment is pronounced, even upon a strike which sadly affects a vital developmental industry, it is necessary to study the two sides to the dispute. A great deal hinges upon the extent of the alleged disruptive influence of Mr. Clapham, the secretary of the Mangakino section of the union, whose transfer to another district is said to have been sought by the engineers on the construction works. Those responsible for releasing the statement on behalf of the workers claim that, in.his capacity as a tunnellcr, Mr. Clapham is a satisfactory worker and that no specific charges have been made to justify the action taken against him. Practically all that has come from the engineers’ side is that he is “disruptive.” It may yet transpire that their policy has been dictated by extreme provocation; in fact, it is difficult to visualise men in important positions adopting means to effect Mr. Clapham’s removal unless this were so. Yet if the man is himself a good worker and if whatever he has been saying among his fellow-employees has not actually stopped them from working, it is a delicate matter, under our democratic principles of freedom and tolerance, to decide how far those in charge can go in arranging his transfer. Mr. Clapham is an acknowledged Communist, but unless the Communist Party were declared an illegal organisation and virtually outlawed, that political status in itself docs not constitute an offence—certainly not, it may be repeated, under the democratic system. Tn Russia the course of action taken against anyone suspected of being disruptive would doubtless have been much different. There the counterpart of Mr. Clapham would probably be banished to •Siberia, and any workers who went on strike in sympathy would be dealt with forcefully and without consideration for their “rights.” It is astonishing that self-avowed Communists in free British countries appear to show more allegiance to a Power the establishment of whose regime would rob them of the liberty they now enjoy than they do to their native land. The day cannot come too soon when these misguided people will wake up to the fact that the most comfortable course for them to pursue is to throw their lot in with an established democratic party, Labour or otherwise. From the Government’s point of view the situation is decidedly awkward. For that it has itself largely to blame. In the past its weaknesses in handling industrial disputes have been too much-in evidence, and some of the more militant unionists appear to think they can get away with almost anything by way of direct action. The fact that the Government is now showing signs of strength, even if somewhat belatedly, is to be commended. Any measures it chooses to adopt in keeping the industry of the country going at full speed should be supported by the adherents of all political parties. But it must first of all make quite sure when it interferes in a dispute that its stand is unassailable. In the case of the trouble at the hydro-electric works it has yet to prove that the conduct of the “democratically elected” union secretary, Mr. Clapham, merits the man’s summary transfer. In the final analysis the workers themselves—the great majority who must be wanting to return to their duties —may be an important factor in deciding the issue.