Tribunal For Hydro Dispute Next Week

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1948, Page 7

Tribunal For Hydro Dispute Next Week

WELLINGTON, April 8. The Mangakino dispute will be reroferred to a tribunal for settlement and Ihe hearing may begin on Tuesday. Making, 'this aunounceuient, Mr. Fraser said thc Governmeut as the ein"ploycr was preparcd to submit its act ion in the Mangakino transfer and it.s full case in support of tliat action to a tribunal. Thc workers liad agreed to tlu: setling up of a tribunal. ! LStatements liave becn made whio" I'iin bo construed as mcaning tliat thc transfcr of Clapham, wlio was at thc time secrctnrv of 'the local branch oJ the 'New Zealand Workers' Union, from Mangakino "to Auckland, " while stil] in employment of the Publie Works Departnient " without anv semblance of sacrilice on hi.s pail was victimisa tion l)ecausc of his socrotayial activities,''said Mr. Fraser. "The Govcmiuent is convinced tliat there is not Ihe slightesl trace of victiniisation m ■-onnection vvitli the transfer. There lias becn 110 rase of victiniisation of any u n ion oflieial or niember of the l'ublic Works Deparlment or elsewliere in Goverinnent eniploynient dnring the wliole period of over twelve years of (,!o\ ernn'ient admini.stration." ' Mr. Fraser added tliat Cabinet did tio l agree tliat the oceupancy of a union oHicer's positiou gave the occupaut lic-ein-e to interfere with the sniooth working of a job, to stir up antagonisinN lo the engineers responsible for earrving on Ihe job, and to pinprick and irritate the engineers, overseers and forenien, and to publish sneers at and insults to ineii occupying positions oi respun.sibility on the works. Tlie ( 'overnnient insistud tliat such (lclii)crate aml malicious hostilitv and Stirl ing npof sirife wliere established could nol 1)0 lolcrated. When sucn 1 1 : * t i 1 1 us liad an ulterior motive thev wero a nienace to the count.vy as well as lo any particular job and niust be teriniiiutt'd. Mr. Fraser said it was onl\ I'air to state tliat the New Zealand Worker.-.' I'nion liad . t lirougliout ' tlio years co-operutod witlf Ihe Minister of Works to ihe great advantage of both Ihe iiien emploved on Publie Works and of Ihe ad.iiitiist ration of publie welfare lt w:e hope.l 1 hat as was eusloinary in si'.'-ii disputes uovnial work as prior Ihe stopj)age would be resuuied a' Mangakino on Monday.