ANXIETY FELT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 6

ANXIETY FELT

HYDRO VILLAGE

“AIR OF UNCERTAINTY”

ACTIVITIES OF CLAPHAM HAMILTON, April 22. Further evidence was given as (o die activities of I- V. Clapham, secretary of the local branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, when the tribunal inquiring into the Mangakino dispute began its third day's sitting this morning. A church worker told the tribunal that Clapham had made the Mangakino communi y anxious and uncertain as to the future. He described Clapham as Die most disliked man in the village.

The tribunal comprises Judge Dalglish, chairman, Mr F. H M. Hanson, employers' representative, and Mr. W F Shilton, workers' representative. Mr. J. E Engel is conducting the case for the Works Department, and Mr C. Hair is appearing for the New Zealand Workers’ Union and for C.npham. Arthur Herbert MacPherson, who yesterday told the tribunal of the difficulties between himself and Clapham, admitted having written news items for the Mangakino Spark and having used it to publicise the work of ‘.he Y.M.C.A

He admitted Shat Clapham had once assisted him in obtaining a license to screen films and said he did not blame Clapham for the girls of his staff absenting themselves from work one day Arthur Clement Lane Presbyterian home missioner, :oid of differences with Clapham over the administration of the sick bay in the village and said that on one occasion, when the provision of church buildings was discussed Clapham observed: ''lf I had my way, you would get none at all.” “Majority Against Strike”

The general feeling during the last few months had been very strained. Witness thought most of the men were very dissatisfied at the trend of events. The majority, he believed, had been against the strike and some had expressed to him surprise at the outcome of the ballot. It was being freely said that the sooner Clapham “went down the road" the better.

Women in the village felt gravely concerned over the prevailing uncertainty. The recent troubles bad had a moral and psychological effect on the village. One woman had told witness she had lived for six weeks under the strain of fearing she might have to “get out” any day. Witness said that, with such home conditions prevailing, work could not progress harmoniously. Clapham was perhaps the most disliked man at Mangakino. and the gereral feeling was that he would have to go.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hair, Lane said he could not remember that Clapham's remark about church buildipgs was merely to the effect that the social halls and hospital buildings should take priority over churches. Mr. Hair: From your comment about the surprise of some workers at the outcome of ballot, you are not inferring, by any chance .that anything was the matter with Hie baliot. Witness: No. I did not infer that.

To Mr Shilton witness said the ballot was not a secret one in the true sense of the word in that it was conducted in open cubicles with people moving freely about during the voting. “I do not suggest it was faked,’’ added Lane.

His opinion 01 the workers at Mangakino was that, although not ignorant, many of them were easily persuaded. To Mr Hanson he said he thought a section of the workers had sought another test of opinion after the strike ballot was taken, but their efforts were squashed as being against the union’s constitution Evidence of Painter Herbert Thomas Hicks, head painter at Mangakino, said he was a member of the local union branch until last October, when he refused renomination because the Communists were getting a very strong hold and were stirring up political combat. He thought lie could oppose them better as a free lance, Mr. Engel: How did Clapham get on the executive? Witness: Unfortunately I nominated him. Mr Engel: We all make mistakes. Witness: I didn’t know his leanings at that time. I have been a unionist for 40 years. . I hope I am still a good unionist, but I am against the Communists. Clapham’s influence was insidious like a boil on your neck which you knew was there, although you couldn't see it. To Mr. Hanson witness said he thought there had been three or four resignations from the union executive since his own but the reasons given in these cases had been sickness. Witness thought there was a group of several hundred men at Mangakino pledged to fight Communism. Events Leading to Transfer

Edgar Ravensworth McKillop, commissioner of works, read a statement reviewing the events whicn led to Clapham's transfer being authorised. Alter the engineer then in charge at Maraetai and those associated with him had advised that they would resign if Clapham remained on the job witness himself went to Mangakino, “After the fullest consideration of the position and with the authority of my Minister,” he said, “I directed that Clapham should be transferred from Mangakino to the Auckland district, I spoke later tc> the district engineer in Auckland and asked him to ensure personally that Clapham received suitable employment.” Witness said his engineers forwarded to him copies of the Mangakino Spark, which he found to be the official organ of the Communist Party at Mangakino and which was printed by D. Ross and published by Clapham. “It is not my responsibility as t> servant of the State to comment on political ideologies," he added. 'T appreciate, as do all the engineers m the Public Works Department, that on our works are men holding a variety of political views, and it is not my concern what views they hold unless, in the propagation of these the smooth running of the job is affected. From a perusal of tlie copies of the Mangakino Spark I am definitely of the opinion that the publication of this newspaper had a detrimental effect on the harmony of the work at Maraetai. It contained inflammatory articles nont conducive to harmonious working and discrediting references to the conditions of employment on the job.” McKillop said there was no evidence that any of the five engineers who felt they were unable to continue on the job with Clapham had ever acted in a high-handed or unfair way toward the workmen. Public servants were required to work loyally for whatever Government was in power, and witness had before him no evidence to justify accusations of political bias against the engineers at Maraetai. Departmental Rights McKillop said that in transferring Clapham from Mangakino to Auckland he was acting in accordance with the long-established principle that the department had the right to transfer any member of its staff or any workman at its discretion. . He went on: “The action which was token was quite free from any animosity towards Clapham. but, having regard to the tremendous importance of Maraetai to the nation and the necessity to see that in all respects the work went forward smoothly and harmoniously to its completion, I consider it would have been a grave dereliction of duty on my part had I allowed Clapham to remain at Mangakino.” . . Asked by Mr. Engel to express lus opinion on the references in the Mangakino Spark to "running dogs toi employers’ organisations” and lory Quislings within the Labour ranks, McKillop said he had worked with Mr. Fraser and Mr. Semple throughout the war and found it difficult to put in words what he felt about such statements which were an absolute lie. To Hair, witness said Clapham s, transfer was not a normal one in the sense that it was not ordered simply

because the worker was wanted on another job. Mr. Hair: Would you say it was the first transfer of its kind in your experience? McKillop: Since I became commissioner of works, yes. Mr. Hair: And in your whole Public Works experience? Witness: Oh, no.