ENGINEER RESIGNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22618, 22 April 1948, Page 6

ENGINEER RESIGNS

STRIFE_ON JOB “CLAPHAM OR ME” MANGAKINO DISPUTES IP Ad HAMILTON, April 21. Another nine witnesses were still to be called for the Works Department when the tribunal inquiring into the Mangakino dispute began Us second day’s sitting today. Arnold Edwin Clark, resident engineer at Mangakino, whose evidence nad begun vesterday ,said this morning that he considered it quite improper for Clapham to have given the information he did to a Rotorua newspaper criticising the management of the Mangakino job. ft had been alleged in that article, for instance .that small tools were very scarce on the tunnelling site. Witness said the fact was that between March, 1947 ,and March, 1943. although small tools were scarce throughout 'he country, no fewer than 76 wrenches and similar items were lost by theft or other unexplained reasons This was nearly twice the num ber of such items actually on issue at any one time. "Not for Publication" Witness said Clapham had denied to him that he gave the information for publication, claiming to have warned the reporter that nothing was to be published (The reporter concerned. Mister Spence yesterday gave evidence that when he visited Mangakino he took notes openly in Clapham's presence and said the latter was aware that publica lion was intended.) Witness, describing negotiations he had with the local branch of the union over building priorities in Mangakino, said it appeared to be one of Clapham s tactics to seek credit for himself by making requests for things which he knew were already being provided on the initiative of the management. Witness described trouble which oc curred last October oyer catering ar rangements at Mangakino. Two of die three caterers, who had private contracts with the single men to provide meals at 30s a week, asked for an extra 5s a week from each man.

Alter he nad refused the request of one cookhouse committee for the department to take over the catering—that was against departmental policy—and after the caterers had threatened

to close the cookhouses on a certain date if they did not receive the additional payment, a mass meeting of the men one Saturday decided to cease work on the whole job on the following Monday unless the department undertook to guarantee the extra 5s to the caterers. Commissioner of Works’ Visit The outcome of this was a visit to Mangakino by the Commissioner of Works and a national official of the union. The Commissioner of Works subsequently arranged for the department to guarantee the extra 5s for one week while the negotiations continued The Price Tribunal was not consulted over the increase in the catering charges. A settlement was made on the basis of an increase of 5s a week in the locality allowance paid to all men on Hie job bringing the allowance up to the present figure of 10s a week. Witness after describing the negotia lions with Clapham over other matters said he believed that the latter’s writ ings in the “Mangakino Spark" had caused discontent. Witness said there was a strong feeling among members of the staff that relationships on the job were much better during the few weeks that Clanham was away from Mangakino. “We were a happier family then," said witness, who added that in view of all the circumstances lie did not consider that Clapham was victimised bv the transfer. He had been dealt with very fairly and leniently. Witness’ Work Appreciated Witness said the union local over Clapham's signature had expressed appreciation of what he himself had done for the men. "1 think Clapham is a verv clever chap, but I believe lie is on the job not so much to earn a living as to foster the aims of a particular doctrine in which he believes,” Clark continued. “Looking over the history of the work at Mangakino X can come to no other conclusion but that most of our worries would be overcome with the removal of Clapham. “I resigned in October because al that time the position had become so difficult and so unsatisfactory that I felt that neither I nor any other engineer could carry on that very important job under the existing conditions,” he added. “I was quite sure that Clapham was responsible for these conditions. I did not want to leave the department and I had no other job to which to go. After 28 years’ service resignation would also mean a very substantial financial loss in superannuation.”