Fact-Finding About The Fact-Finders

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1948, Page 7

Fact-Finding About The Fact-Finders

Press Assdcia:on)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. Moved by the waterfront report oi' the Fact-finding Gommittee of the Port of' Auckland Clearance Conference, the N.Z. Waterside Workers' Union now proposes the early formation of a "Fact-finding Committee to - Fihd Out Facts About the Fact-finders. , The ..proposal is made in a letter to the seeretary of the Auckland Trades Council (Mr. W. Ashton) and it is de-. scribed by the union as ''a. plan in aecordance with the best concepts of British fair play, appealing to the democratic instincts of all'.k "You 'are .doubtless aware, " writes the union seeretary (Mr. T. Hill) to Mr. Ashton, "that some zealous * iiersous banded togetlier nnder the styie of tlio Fact Finding Committee of the Port of Auckland Clearance Conference have, without known invitation or obvious talent, taken it upou themselves to publish to the people their opiniohs on the way the waterfront should be worked. They have also made, on specious contentiohs, serious reflections on the unionists and their capaeity. ' ' You will appreciate that there is a very diiferent perspective of the waterfront frqm clubland, from the halls-'of commerce, and from the comfortable chairs of high execvitives. It bears no relation to tlie view available to the workers, who have to handle f rozen produce, eemeut, sugar or pliospliate. "Guerrillas in Top-hats" * "Holding that most of the fact;finders were prejudiced from the beginning, this union asserts that they pertormed in the incongruous roie of guerrillas in top-hats and spats. This union has no confidence in'the theories cvolved by the solons of the salons' or Remuera. - , "A fact anywhere is as valid as facts everywhere. • Tliis union believes that fact-iinding should not be a onewav tratiic. Accordingly, it suggcsts that the example of the Fact Finding Committee of the Port of Auckland Clearance Conference should be followed by the trade union movcment, which clearly has need of a Fact Finding Committee to Find Out Facts About tht Fact Finders. "If it is proper for- fact-fmders to probe into the allairs of others, aud to publish their opinions to thc world ai large, they will hardly object if they are subjected to identical treatment. J should lilce to receive your opinions on what can be done by the Auckland Trades Council to form a fact finding committee of its own. "If thc plan is praeticable, it is suggested that the fact finders who are responsible for eriticising the watersidcrs should be the first group for 11.1 vestigation. Much will, of course, do ■ pend on the cooperation of these factfinders, btit, by placiug all their cards on the table, they should do what they expect others to -do. Order of Inquiry "The preparation of an order of inquiry will doubtless take- Some time, but, at this dt;-0ccurs to .the union that the foHoiving propositions are 'WOrthy o^?Inqlusion:-r-"1. Thc £act' finders should be asli'ed to: disclqse their earnihgs in 1938,:,|.he y.car" to which they atlaeli . sd nxuidll ifinport^nce in tfiA case of the wa^err siders, an.d wliat they ;hqve nett-dd, in the 'past y'eaf. t i. ?' M 2.- The fact fipdors should rbve'al v|4iether Ihev ; are:- working "as hani tqdajv aS't.hcy did iri 193S. 3. The" fact fin.ders sliould be only t66!pleased: tqistate. whether they have expanded their investuients aud company eonnections in the past ten years; ■and " 1. The fact finders should be candid on the subject of their enhaneed soeiai prestige and improved liviug standards during the period in question. That is to suy, they should be very frank aboui their property interests and improve ments, the number of niotor c.ars thev have managed to buy, the clubs to which tliey belong, aml pastiiues such as liorse racing, goif and fishing camps M liether they have been fortunate to ■ increase their holidays -during the course of- a year should also be a genui n e c o i is i d e r a t i on . "Tliis union feels sure that t.Jie material to be obtaiued along ^these lines from tlie fact finders would be a potent contributiotl to industrial harmony and a highly instructive subjeci froni the sociological vieivpoiut. You will appreciate that Ihe appearance of orgauisations resembling the F.F.C.T.P. O.A.C.C. in other districts should naturallv lead to an extension ot' the F.F.C.T.F.O.A.T.F.F., but, for the . moment, it is suggested that Auckland should be the venue, and the operations should be under your juristiction. "