COMMUNIST CELL ON MANGAKINO JOB ALLEGED BY WITNESS AT TRIBUNAL

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1948, Page 7

COMMUNIST CELL ON MANGAKINO JOB ALLEGED BY WITNESS AT TRIBUNAL

, P.A. HAMILTON, April 21. 1 “It was well known that there was a Communist ' cell on the job led by Clapham, declared one witness ! this afternoon, during the inquiry into the dismissal i of L. V. Clapham, secretary of the local branch of the Workers’ Union from the Mangakino hydro job, and into the strike of the workers which ensued. [ Other witnesses gave it as their opinion that 1 Clapham sought to gain some measure of control oyer the job, and-that, if he were not transferred, there would be no 'social structure left in Mangakino township in twelve months’ time.

The Tribunal continued' the inquiry into the Mangakino dispute. Tne rnuunai consists of Judge Dalglish (chairman),. Mr F. H. M.-Hanson (.employers' representative), and 'Mr W. *‘. Shilton (workers' representative). Mr J. E. Engel, a former Assistant Public Service Commissioner, is conducting the case for the department, ana Mr c. Hair, secretary ol : the New Zealand Workers* Uriibn, is appearing ioi’ the union and for'Mr L. v. Clapham, secretary ot the Mangakino □ranch of the union. The tribunal is asked to determine whether Mr Clapham’s conduct at Mangakino justiiiea his transfer to Auckland... Anold Edwin Clark, ; ' resident engineer at Mangakino said he’considered it improper for 'Ciapfi’am' to have given the information’^'.did to a rCotorua newspaper-. criticising the management of tne M.aiigakiiio juo. it haa been alleged. in this article ' that small tools were scarce on the tunnelling site. The fact' was that between March, 1947, and March, 1948, although small tools were scarce throughout the country, no fewer than 76 wrenches and similar items were lost by theft or other unexplained reasons. This was nearly twice the number of such items actually on issue at any one* time.-.. ■■ 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, Alister Spence, yesterday gave evidence that when* he visited Mangakino he took notes openly in Mr Clapham’s presence and said the latter was aware that publication was intended). Mr Clark described 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. Clark described trouble which occurred last October over catering arrangements at Mangakino. Two of the three caterers, who had private contracts with the single men to provide meals at 30s weekly, asked for an extra 5s weekly from each man. After he had been refused the request of one cookhouse committee for the department to take over the catering—that was against Ahe del partment’s policy—and after the k 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 The outcome of this was a visit to Mangakino by the Commissioner of Works and a .national official of the union. The Commissioner of WiJ.'ks subsequently arranged for the department to guarantee the extra 5s lor one week while 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 weekly in the locality allowance paid to all the men on the job, bringing the allowance up to the present figure of 10s weekly. Clark, after describing the negotiations with Clapham, over matters, said he believed the latter’s writings in the ; Mangakino “Spark” had caused discontent. Witness said there was a strong feeling among the members of the staff that relationships on the job were much better - during the few weeks Clapham was away from Mangakino. “We were a happier family then,” said witness. In view of all the circumstances witness did not consider Clapham was victimised by his transfer. He had been dealt with very fairly and leniently. The union 1 branch over Clapham’s signature had expressed appreciation of what he I himself had done for the men. “I think Mr.Clapham is a very , clever chap, but I believe he is on the job not so much to earn his living as to foster the aims of a particular doctrine in which he believes.” Mr Clark continued. “Looking over the history of the work at Mangakino, I can come to no other conclusion but that ’ most of our worries would be overcome with the removal of ' Mr Clapham. “I resigned in October, because, at that time, the position had become so difficult and so unsatisfactory that 1 felt that neither I nor any other en--1 gineer could carry on that very important job under the existing conditions,” he added. “I was quite sure Mr Clapham was responsible for these conditions. I did not want to leave the department and I nad no job to which to go. After 28 years’ service, my resignation would also mean a very substantial financial loss in superannuation.” THE TRANSFER To Mr Hair, witness «aid he gave very little information to Clapnam about the reasons for the - laites’s transfer, “but I did tell him I would not stay on the job if he did.” Mr Clapham had no special qualifications for the job in Auckland to which he was transferred, Mr Hair; “The it was not a transfer for the convenience of the department?” —“It was for the convenience of the department. Mr Hair: “It was an unprecedented transfer?”—“lt was unusual.” Answering further questions by Mr Hair as to whether he held Clapham resoonsible for certain actions by the meh at Manpakino witness replied that it was difficult to fix on Clapham the blame for any particular actions, but witness considered Clapham responsible for many things which could not be brought home to him directly. FREE FOOD Witness said he was aware that until April, 1947, the men on the job had free food and that after that the concession was withdrawn. There was some ill-feeling. He was not aware that when subsequently it was proposed that a deputation should approach the Minister asking for a locality allowance of 30s weekly instead of the 5s then paid; Clapham had opposed the demand as unreasonable. ' Mr Hair: “If it can be shown that Clapham did in fact do that, would vou say it was the act of a disrupter? Witness: “Not on the face of it. but Clapham is a clever man and he would know just how far he could go. He would realise that if he supported ridiculous claims, he would lose the means of obtaining his aims.” Mr- Hair: “Do you think Clapham was responsible for the cookhouse disjjyte?”—Witness: "It is hard to pin

down the responsibility lor certain I events, hut 1 am satisfied they are a result or the policy oi endeavouring co keep the men in a state of unrest/' Mr Hair: “Do you Know that Clanham was in Wellington and aid not attend that meeting —Witness: “No, nut it is possible mat once having prompted a mass into a motion, it can be left .to itself.” Mr Hair: “Can Clapham be held responsible for the increased cooxhouse charges?”—Witness: “There is no argument against the men asking for high cost-oi-living allowances. We object to the threat to stop unless something is done quickly." Witness admitted that the action of the men over the catering dispute might have been precipitated by the - action of the caterers, but tnere was no justification for the threat of strike action The men had the remedy in their own hands, to arrange new catering contracts ,'or, if they felt the charges they were asked to pay were too high, they could have approached the Minister'for a high locality allowance. Asked how much time was lost’ b> the men’s action over the catering question witness replied one nighi shift. Payment for that lost shift was later authorised from Wellington. Witness said that when union officials in February had asked him to specify the charges against Clapham he had declined to discuss the matter with them. He would say, however, that the transfer was for the good oi the job. Mr Hair: “Can you definitely pm down any activity of Clapham’s that you would definitely regard as disruptive and likely to cause delay even chaos on the job?”—Witness: ‘‘Yes, I can. His whole behaviour on the jot has been designed to further the aims of the doctrine he believes in.” Mr Hair: “But that is a political doctrine. Can you mention any instance of Clapham inciting the men not to pull their weight or not to work so hard? Have you any criticism of him personally as a worker?” —Witness: “No.” Asked by Mr Hair and f»r Shilton to give specific instances of Clapham’s disruptive activity on the job, witness said it w,as difficult to name specific matters. 'but he knew Clapham was responsible for the unrest among the men. Answering further questions by Mr Shilton, witness said; “It is not one particular instance. It is the whole design of Clapham’s behaviour I object to.” Mr Engel: “In effect, isn't your charge that he is a trouble-maker?”— Witness: “That is so.” Mr Shilton: “1 presume, if he is a trouble-maker, you would have no difficulty J.n. preferring a charge.” To Mr Hanson, witness said he considered Clapham’s writings in the “Mangakino Spark” and his action in giving information to a R.otorua newspaper showed disloyalty to his employers and made him un it to be on the job. At Mangakino witness had ,had to devote an abnormal amount of time in dealing with complaints and disputes. He had no cause to complain about Clapham’s approaches to him as a union official, but Clapham’s great influence with the men on the job had been used, not for the good of the job, but to the be/efit and advance of his theories, “which do not agree with out methods of running and controlling the work.” Mr Hanson: “Although his approaches to you were gentlemanly courteous that- was used as a clom. for deeper subversive activity?”—Witness: “That is so.” CLAPHAM WAS WARNED BY MINISTER James Henderson Macky, senior engineer in charge of the Maraetai diversion tunnel, said that when the Minister of Works, Mr Semple visited Mangakino in May last, he had a pri-

'■ vate conversation with Clapham 1 Later the Minister reported to witness 1 that he had told Clapham that if the ‘ latter caused any trouble on tl/-* joo ■ he would “go down the road.” Everyone he incited would go with him. CO-OP PARTIES BAN CLAPHAM Witness said that, when one cooperative tunnelling party, of which Clapham had been a member, was reorganised, Clapham and one othei worker were not taken into the party while the leaders of other co-opera-tive parties refused to have them. The overseer asked that Clapham, and the other man, who were then on daj wages, should be given work elsewhere. But Jhe engineers on othei sections of the job refused. Witness said that he was sure Clapt ham was concerned in an ultimatun > that was issued, at one stage, thai L overtime beyond 44 hours weeklj . would cease if bonuses were no! . granted to certain classes of trades- . men. That threat ,to withhold overj time, might have had serious conse- > quences, but when the Minister ad- : vised the men that he would not en- ) tertain the suggestion, a meeting was held and the previous resolu! , iion rei scinded. THE CELL ON THE JOB The witness, who said that he usually got on exceptionally well with > union officials, considered that the i relations on the job deteriorated aftei ; Clapham arrived at Mangakino and I became active in the union. “It is • well known that there is a Commun- ; ist cell on the job, led by Clapham,” ! Macky stated. “It is a well-organisec group, with several of its members on the union executive.” Mr Shilton; “Have you any idea ■ how strong it is?” —Witness: “I would only be going by hearsay.” A large proportion of the men at Mangakino were strong union sup- ■ porters, Macky continued. They were, at present, concerned —and many had - told him —about the trend of events in union affairs. They said that the Cell organised by Clapham was controlling - matters. - Witness believed that Clapham was not particularly concerned with the welfare of the people or the promotion of the job, and that his tactics were to create dissention and unrest.. His mission at Mangakino was just to stir up trouble. Macky said that he was one of the enginers who had tendered their resignations last year. The job was a difficult one, bustling with technical problems. which were worrying enough in themselves, without the upsetting and undermining tactics of Clapham. Under those circumstances, he could not carry on with the job in . the way that he considered it should be done. To Mr Hair, witness said that he , vyas not aware that Clapham had been invitbd to rejoin tne co-operative party to which he had formerly belonged. He did not, know that Clapham declined to go back because he felt that his frequent abscences from work on union business would be Unfair to the co-operative party. The witness, when asked to name

i any tactic of Clapham’s which was 1 disruptive, said that the engineers knew x from moving around the job, who and what caused the trouble. Mr Hair: “Has anyone toldw.u that Clapham ever threw a handful of bolts into the machinery, or incited men not to do their best?” Witness said that he, personally, did not know of such actions by Clapham. To Mr Hensbri. the witness said he had no doubt that Clapham was atroublemaker ..arid a disruptive element. “He makes the ammunition, but he leaves his gang to fire it,” said. Macky. “ Mr Hanson: “Do you consider Clapham and his fellow Communists were actually trying to gain a measure of control of the job?”—Witness: “That is the impression I formed.” To,Mr Shilton, witness said that he thought, if' the" disruptive"'element were not all Communists, they would be called felbow travellers. Mr Shilton: “Would'it surprise you to know that there are. only seven members of the Communist party at Mangakino?”—“Witness': “That is the same number as I have been told.” PARTIES OBJECT TO CLAPHAM George Shirmah, Senior Overseer, in charge of the diversion tunnel, said , that after Clapham left one co-opera-tive contract party, the head men of other parties were asked to take Clapham into their parties. They refused. One head man said: “I would not tolerate those trouble-makers for five minutes! I want control of my own job!” Another head man said that Clapham would only cause strife. Asked by Mr Hair whether he knew of any concrete instance of Clapham advising men to stop work, or to hold up work, witness said: “Yes! Very much so, one occasion!” He described an incident in which a party working with a truck on one side of the river had been held up while Clapham had discussions with ' those across the river. ( * Witness said that two men, who had come to say “goodbye” to witness during the strike, had declared that the job would never be any good to them while Clapham remained. OVERSEERS MADE PROTEST Bert Buchanan, Inspector of Works, at Mangakino, said, that Clapham had been a disruptive influence, and had used his position in the union as a cloak for his own ends. Witness said that, in November, he and other overseers wrote to the engineer in charge, expressing their concern over highhanded methods adopted by workers towards some disputes on the job. The overseer wrote that they had always found the - great majority of the men to be decent, willing workers, but a small section seemed to be determined to stir up discontent. Their letter expressed the view that, unless means were found of dealing with his minority, the job would be held up. Mr Shilton; “Have you any idea who framed that ''letter?”—Witness: “We framed it ourselves!” The witness admitted he seldom came into contact with Clapham, but his opinions were based on what he had seen on the job of Clapham’s influence. CLAPHAM AND THE C.S.A. Anthony James Clarkson, Personnel Officer at Mangakino, said that he engaged Clapham at Karapiro, early in 1947, but Clapham was one of the first draft put off when the work slackened. Going to Mangakino in April, he found that Clapham had been elected as President of the local branch of the R.S.A.. “However the R.S.A.’s views in that respect being well known, he did not remain President for long. He resigned, because, in my opinion, he found that his attempt to gain control of the R.S.A. was falling on very barren ground,” said witness. Witness himself was an R.S.A. member. A LINE DRAWN Clarkson said that, after Clapham became secretary of the ..local union, in July, there was a marked worsening in the relations between the union and the staff. For the first time, he then found that a needless line of demarcation had been drawn. When he consequently ceased to visit workers with whom he had been friendly, it was not because of bad feeling towards those people themselves, but because of a tension whicn resulted if casual visitors ' came in during “his own visits to workers. UNUSUAL INCIDENT Clarkson said that,-on one occasion, in March, thefe"was an unusual incident, when a young man, who had arrived only a few hours before, called on witness one evening, and handed in his stores which he had drawn only that afternoon, and then announced his intention of returning to Wellington. This man. Had told witness: “I had not been half an hour in the camp when ‘they’ started talking to me. I have never been one of them. I never will be one, and it is no use ■ Communists trying to get around me.” This man was in a' very troubled state of mind. PUBLIC SERVICE ASSN MOTION The witness continued that he was chairman of the Mangakino SubBranch of the Public Service Association. which, on March 15, adopted a resolution unanimously supporting the engineers and deploring the circum-

stances leading to the strike. Their resolution said that the Sub-Branch was sure that the engineers, were not fighting unionism, but fighting a disruptive element. The Mangakino subsection was representative of the Storekeepers, the overseers and others up to the Project Engineer. About sixty per cent., of its members were directly connected with the construction, and. ’so were with the men on the job. RESIGNATION FROM R.S.A. To Mr Hair, who inquired if it was not unusual for ?. man seeking for p'pwer, as Clapham was alleged to be doing, to resign from the Presidency of thfe. R:S.A. branch, the witness replied in the negative. He did not agree.with Mr Hair that Clapham had resigned solely because he had, in the interval, accepted office in the Union Local. His resignation from the R.S.A. was. solely, because Clapham realised that he could not get control. Asked whether the National Executive of the Public Service Association had jiot dissociated itself from the resolution of the Sub Branch about the strike, the witness said that the action of the Executive simply meant that “as they had no idea of the case whatsoever, they were not in a position to discuss it.” Y.M.C.A. COMPLAINT OF DICTATOR Arthur Herbert MacPherson, in charge of the Y.M.C.A. work at Mangakino, said that he had found Clapham to be definitely dictatorial in his attitude to matters affecting the union and the Y.M.C.A. Clapham had insisted that the Y.M.C.A. Hall shoulci be closed on the night of the Unidr meeting because <?f an agreement tc that" effect made when only one hall was available. Clapham would not modify his attitude, although several halls had sriico been completed. Or one occasion, he had met Clapham or the hill overlooking Mangakino. Clap-

■ham waved his hand towards the township, and remarked: “All that is going to be run by us in a democratic way!” Witness thought that “us” meant the Communists. Clapnam had interfered in an unheralded strike, of staff in his (MacPherson’s). office, which included the Post Office, and Clapham had, * later, wi|itten in the “Mangakino Spark,” an account of the incident which was most distorted. A “Mister Ross, a junior Commissar,” had also intervened when the witness was discussing the matter with his staff. UNION NOT CAUSE OF TROUBLE Speaking generally of Clapham’s activities at Mangakino, the witness said, he did not concern himself with what Clapham did inside the union, but he- did deem it his duty to take an interest in what Clapham did to

spread Communism in Mangakino.” “Men on the job have complained to me that much of the trouble at Mangakino to-day is not due to the union. They are staunch unionists, and loyal to their union. But they do suggest that the Executive of the Union in Mangakino to-day is Mr Len ClaphaiQ." Mr Engel (for the Government): Then you think that his transfer would be in the public interest?”— Witness: “I would say that, it Clapham stays at Mfingakino, there will be no social structure there in twelve months’ time!” Several witnesses were still to be called when the Tribunal adjourned shortly after five p'.m. It is likely that the tribunal will sit tp-morrow evening in an endeavour' to complete the hearing on Friday.