MYSTERIOUS SECRECY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 12

MYSTERIOUS SECRECY.

The muzzling of the engineers at Arapuni at first appeared to be due to no more than an error of judgment on the part of the Minister of Public Works, an obviously stupid action, but excusable on the part of a novice in Ministerial responsibility confronted with a serious problem within a few weeks of his association with the department. Subsequent events tend to create an impression that Mr. Taverner's policy does not justify this innocent interpretation. According to the statement made by him in Dunedin on Tuesday, he has no complaint against the press, but acknowledges its "helpfulness and judgment." The reason for his attitude is that it "will ensure that expert information will become first available to the Government before the public are asked to comment thereon." It is not a convincing defence; even its superficial appearance of sincerity has been destroyed by the Minister's subsequent actions. Certain exploratory work is essential to the "careful examination" by engineers and geologists to which Mr. Taverner referred, yet that work has been stopped ostensibly because it was considered unsafe for the men engaged upon it. As the sol£ source of public information, the Minister is clearly bound to announce the reasons for this action and to state upon whose authority the order for suspension was issued. His statement last evening is merely another example of hush tactics. It does not explain the "cessation" of the several exploratory tunnels, a class of work that does not stop automatically, and it does not answer the questions implied by the statements quoted by the Minister. If the engineers at Arapuni stopped the work, they must have had grounds for their decision that should be stated. If the instructions were givven by the Minister upon his own initiative, he is under an obligation to explain upon whose representations he acted, whether the engineers were consulted, and, if not, how he justifies his intervention. Frankness on this point is especially necessary in view of a curious sequence of events. Last Tuesday, the annual conference of the Union of Workers received an alarmist report regarding working conditions at Arapuni, and decided to ask the Government'to appoint its nominee an inspector, with a salary at the public expense, so that "the lives of the union members shall not be placed in jeopardy"; on Thursday Mr. Ransom received a deputation from the union and informed it that Mr. Taverner had given instructions that Mr. Robert Semplc was to be given every facility for making an inspection of the work. Now, however, seven of the men who have been employed in the tunnelling operations have forwarded a protest against the whole proceedings, in which they declare emphatically and explicitly that there has not been any dangerous element in their work. In view of these facts; it is reasonable and necessary to ask the Minister to explain exactly the character of the situation at Arapuni. Are the investigations, which should bo prosecuted without delay, being conducted by the engineers or are they being personally directed by the Minister, with no better guidance than irresponsible resolutions by the Workers' Union? Responsible newspapers are denied access to the works, the Minister has announced that he will have nothing to say until reports from engineers and geologist have been considered by the Government, yet their work has been stopped, tunnellers have been thrown out of employment and the whole investigation has been brought to a standstill. The Government cannot complain if the public discerns in this extraordinary situation other motives than zeal for the rehabilitation of the Arapuni scheme.