WHO PULLED THE FAST ONE ?

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1949, Page 2

WHO PULLED THE FAST ONE ?

Attack on N.Z. Miners’ National Secretary in Communist Paper (To The Editor) Dear Sir,—Statements have been published in "The People’s Voice” the Communist Party’s official journal, relating to the ballot held recently to eiect a National Council member to represent the King Country Miners on the National Executive of the United Mine Workers. As the •‘People’s Voice” is circulated around mines in the district covered by your papei, and as the article referred to places a reflection on the returning officer (Mr R. Duggan) who was formerly employed at the Roa Mine, also .on the integrity of the National Council members, the national president and secretary and members of the council would be pleased if you would publish the facts which are as follows.

In the June, 22nd, 1941 issue of “The People’s Voice”, the following appeared in the paper referred to, was headed: “Prendiville Pulls a Fast One”, and reads as follows: Copy: "Prendiville pulls a fast one. When the Miners’ National Council was meeting in conference recently, the President, Mr Prendiville, informed Don Mcßae that he had been defeated in the election of officers by Mr Myers and was no longer needed. Mr Mcßae withdrew and left for Ohura, but, on his arrival, learnt that the returning officer had not yet declared the ballot. After a discussion, and on the advice of the miners at Ohura, Mcßae immediately returned to Wellington. Mcßae arrived and learnt that Prendiville had phoned Myers and asked him to proceed to Wellington. Mr Myers was obviously embarrassed as much as was D. Mcßae disgusted with such action.” The Returning Offcer Mr R. Duggan has informed me that the result of the ballot was posted at the mine bath house on the night of 10th May, 1949, at Bennydale. He also informed me that D. G. Mcßae rang him .from Taumarunui, at 8.35 p.m. on the night of May 10, 1949 and asked for the result of the ballot, Mr R. Duggan informed Mcßae of the result of the voting at the three mines and the total vote. This disclosed the fact that D. G. Mcßae had been defeated, and J. Myers elected. In spite of the fact that Mcßae knew that he had been defeated, he, nevertheless, boarded the express for Wellington at 9.10 p.m., and attended the meeting of the National Council on Wednesday May 11, 1949. He did not disclose the fact that he had been defeated to the members of the council. However, he did, after the mid-day adjournament, tell the members of the national council that he had been defeated and Myers elected. The National President and Secretary were informed and it was decided to ring the returning officer to confirm the report to verify it, or otherwise. The returning .officer confirmed the fact that Mcßae had been defeated, and Myers elected; and it was then decided to request Myers to attend the council meeting as the elected delegate. Myers arrived the following morning, 12th May, 1949, and he was present when the president informed D. Mcßae that, J. Myers having been elected as Nr councillor, he Myers would be the official representative. Mcßae left the meeting and returned on the morning of 16th May to record a protest against the action of Council in sending for J. Myers the duly elected delegate, No mention is made in the article that Myers was present before McRae left for Ohura. I have also received a copy of a letter, sent to “The People’s Voice” by the returning officer, Mr R. Duggan, with a covering letter, giving me permission to use it for any purpose I require. It is as follows: — "Editor, ‘People’s Voice’,-Dear Sir, —My attention has been drawn to a paragraph in a recent issue of your paper. The item referred to is headed "Prendiville Pulls a Fast One”; and goes on to state that Mr D. McRae did not know the result of the ballot for National Council delegate before he left for Wellington to attend a meeting of the National Council. Further, that, when he returned home, the Returning Officer had not declared the result of the ballot. Whoever was responsible for giving you the information as published in the paragraph referred to, was guilty of deliberate misrepresentation.

“The facts are: Mr D. Mcßae rang me. from Taumarunui, on the night of Tuesday 10th May. which was the night set down for the official count of the ballot. The count had just been completed, in the presence of the two Scrutineers appointed by the candidates. I infoi med Mr Mcßae that Mr been elected. This was before Mr Mcßae caught the express to Wellington (the National Council meeting was on 11/5/49). These are the facts, and, m the interests of the truth of the matter. I would ask that you publish a contradiction to the paragraph referred to. I am. Yours faithfully. R. Duggan, Returning Officer. King Country Miners’ Council.”—l am etc.. T. CROOK. Secretary, United Mine Workers of New Zealand. Kaitan-ata 18/8/49.