CLAPHAM CROSS-EXAMINED AT LENGTH-COMMUNIST OPINIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22621, 26 April 1948, Page 6

CLAPHAM CROSS-EXAMINED AT LENGTH-COMMUNIST OPINIONS

MANGAKINO TRIBUNAL

(P. A .). HAMILTON, April 24. Heavy volumes of the writings of Lenin and other Communist writers were produced before the tribunal investigating the Mangaliino dispute. Mr. J. E. Engel, representing the Works Department, read a number of extracts from them to L. V. Clapham, whose transfer from Mangakino was followed by the strike there.

Mr- Engel suggested that Clapham's conduct at Mangakino was in line with the teachings of Communist leaders. He claimed these doctrines demanded illegal action from Communists. Mr. Engel also read from Clapham's own writings in New Zealand Communist publications, Including the “Mangakino Spark.” Mr. L. C. Hair, appearing for the Workers’ Union, protested that most of the extracts read were irrelevant, but the chairman, Judge Dalglish, after noting the objection said the tribunal must decide on the question of relevTffie cross-examination of Clapham had not finished when the tribunal adjourned for the week-end. Did Not Urge Overtime Ban Clapham, when the tribunal resumed yesterday afternoon, said he was in no way responsible for the decision to ban overtime unless the fitters were given bonus payments. All his actions regarding matters on the job were on the instructions of the union executive. Clapham said that when on December 12 last the resident engineer A. E. Clark told him he was to be transferred, Clark explained that it was because relations had become strained, but said there was no specific reason for the transfer. . . Witness later received a letter from the project engineer confirming the verbal notice of the transfer, but giving no reasons. In February when negotiations had brought no settlement and Mr Hair and Mr. Wallace suggested inviting the men at Mangakino to decide on any further action, witness opposed that on the ground that it involved risk of direct action. “I said we should give the Government every opportunity of justifying rts action, or else reinstating me without the men on the job resorting to direct action.” Witness denied stating to the Presbyterian minister that if he had his way no churches would be built. , . Witness said his remarks had been to the effect that building priorities should provide for broader amenities before churches for particular denominations. He had specified a hospital as a prior requirement. Not For Publication To Mr. Engel. Clapham said he had clearly warned the reporter of the Rotorua newspaper to whom he gave information about Mangakino that it could not be published because witness had no power to give such information for publication. He was upset when the article was published, realising the harm it could do. . Witness said he remembered Clark telling him that if the article was to be a sample of his conduct, there would not be room for both of them on the job, but he had not regarded this as a warning, thinking that Clark had accepted his assurance that he had not authorised publication of any criticisms of the management of the job There was a strict union rule against giving unauthorised statements to the press Witness said he wrote to the editor of the Rotorua Post denying that he had authorised the publication of the article and had acquainted his executive and the Minister. Mr. Semple, of the facts of the matter. “Clapham said he had made no secret of his politics. He was not, however. in any high position in the New Zealand Communist Party, but was merely active in the Mangakino branch. The party advertised its activities like any other political party. He agreed that, as he had written m the “Mangakino Spark,” the Communist Party subscribed to the doctrines enunciated by Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. What Communists Believe Mr. Engell read several extracts from the collected woi ks of Lenin, advocating various forms of Communist activity, including illegal organisation and the use of trade union positions to promote communism. Mr. Engel asked Clapham if he subscribed to these doctrines. Clapham said the court should get a clear picture of whether Communists subscribed today to the principles laid down in different historical periods under different conditions. Mr. W. F. Shilton, a member of the tribunal, to witness: Don’t you assume there are many Christians who do not believe in every part of the Bible? Witness: That would be so. Mr. Engel also quoted from the New Zealand Labour Monthly for March. 1934 which he said was then the official organ of the Communist Party. The quotation urged all Communists to seiy.e on the slightest cases of dissatisfaction and use them as the basis for organisation and action. Clapham said he had not heard this quotation before, but it dealt with a certain stage of development of the Labour movement before the Labour Party came into office. “ We do carry on in actual practise, as this court has seen, a constructive policy to bring about a maximum amount of unity among trade unionists.” said Clapham. Confronted by Mr. Engel with quota tions from a publication of the Communist International .also dated 1934. advocating the establishment of illegal apparatus parallel with recognised or-

ganisations, Clapham said that if. as in many countries, workers’ organisations were suppressed, it was necessary for Communists to organise ever, by illegal means in the workers' interest. Different Conditions The passage quoted had been written he said, at a time when in Greece, Yugoslavia and elsewhere even trade unions were illegal. “Those conditions differed from those obtaining in New Zealand today, although some people would like to bring them about here, ’ declared Clapham. At this stage Mr. Hair objected that Mr. Engel should not quote extracts possibly out of their context unless the whole books were read. He said the situation was rather extraordinary. Judge Dalglish: These passages are certainly very old. They were written in 1934. Mr. Hair protested that the writings had no relation to any concrete charge against Clapham concerning Mangakino. Judge Dalglish: It comes •to this point that actions which on the part of you or me would not be open to any interpretation do in relation to a member of the Communist Party fit into a pattern, and I take it that Mr. Engel’s intention is to show that in the light of these writings Clapham's actions mav fit into a pattern. Mr. Engel said that was his intention. Mr Hair: The man I am defending did not write the works of Lenin or Stalin. After reading further quotations from Communist writings Mr. Engel quoted from the "People's Voice" of January 14, 1948. which said that the post-war period had afforded a classic example of the manner in which social reformist Governments had inside and outside the British Commonwealth served capitalism. Believed in Aid for Britain Chapman denied that when he wrote in the “Mangakino Spark” to the effect that New Zealand farmers and workers were being called upon to help British workers pay interest on the American loan he was opposing aid to Britain. He believed in aiding Britain, but aid should not be given on an emotional basis tout in the light of the true facts. He agreed that the article might have been construed as expressing opposition to the aid-for-Britain campaign, but said that was not his intention. “There is an order of reference, Your Honour, and I do not see how all this is helping the court,” said Mr. Hair when Mr. Engel put further questions to Clapham concerning extracts from the Communist doctrine. Judge Dalglish said Mr. Engel was questioning Clapham on his attitude towards Communist writings in the light of his statement in the “Mangakino Spark” that his party was based on the teachings of the Communist leaders. Mr. Hair said the order of reference was wide, but unless some definite charge was made against Clapham, there was no relevance in extracts from works written 50, 60 or 70 years ago. Judge Dalglish said it appeared that Mr. Engel was seeking to show that some motive lay behind actions which were otherwise innocent. “I think you must leave it to the tribunal, having noted your objections, 1o decide on relevancy.” said Judge Dalglish to Mr. Hair. “Rich Field For Party /Activity” Mr. Engel read an article written by Clapham last year in a New Zealand Communist publication in which he set out the ways in which Communist cadres could be developed on public works jobs, and said that there was a rich field for party activity in such camps as Mangakino. The article gave details of what the Communist Party had done at Mangakino to extend its activities, and said a well-organised Communist Party branch on a public works job could extend its activity “from the narrow trade union path to the broad community highway." Clapham was also questioned about an article which appeared in the “Workers’ Star,” a Communist paper in Perth, after Clapham had been there on his return from service in the Middle East. Clapham told the tribunal that he did not remember giving the interview, but with other returning New Zealandlers had called at the Communist Party's office in Perth. The article, read by Mr. Engel, said that according to Clapham many Kiwis were highly critical of General Alexander’s polic y at Trieste, the starting point for which had been the use of Army channels to spread anti-Tito propaganda. The article said that many Kiwis objected to the way in which the Second N.Z.E.F. "obeyed the imperialistic demands of Churchill to create some incident that might have sacrificed a lot of New Zealand lives.” To Mr. Engel, Clapham said he and others in the division had made no bones at the time about these ideas they held concerning the situation in Trieste. The tribunal adjourned until Monday when Clapham will be given an opportunity to reply to and comment on the extracts read to him by Mr. Engel. Two more, witnesses will probably follow Clapham before the final submissions are made.