ANXIETY IN MANGAKINO

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1948, Page 5

ANXIETY IN MANGAKINO

Reactidn ToStrike Described By Church Worker \ ' • . ' ' , .. HAMILTON, April 22. . . Further evidenee as to the activities of Mr. L. V. Clapham, secretary of the local branch of the New Zealand W orkers' Uiiion, was heard when the 'riibunal inuiring into Mangakino dispute began its third day's sitting'this morning. .A church worker told the tribunal that Olapham had ' made the Mangakino eommunity, anxious and uncertain as. to the f'uture. The tribunal comprises Judge D. J. Dalglish (ohairman) and Mqssrs. • Ff H, M. tHanson' (employers' representative) and W. F. Hilton (workers"representative) .Mr. J, E. Engel is conducting the case for .* ihe Works Department and Mr, C- . .Hair is appearing for the New Zea.tand Workers' Union and for Clapham. . ' ,5 Arthur Herbert MacPHerspn, who. yescerday told the tribunal of the difficulties and ties between himseif and Clapham, admitted having written news iterns for the Mangakino Spark and having used it to publicise the work of the Y,M ,Q,A. He admitted that Clapham had once assisted him in obtaining a - licence to screen films, and said he . did not blame Clapham for th.e girls of his staff absenting themselves from work- one day. Arthur Clement Lane, Presbyterian hcme missianer, told of difi'erences with Clapham Over the administration of the sick bay in ihe village, and said that 9n one cccasion v/hen the provision Qt church buildings was discussed, Clapham observed: "If I had my way you would get ■. none at all," The general feeling during the last few months had been very strain-

Witness thought most of the men weie very dissatisfied at the trend of events. The majority, he believed, had been against the strike and some had expressed to him surprise at the outcome of the ballot. It was being freely san that the sconer Clapham "wentdown the road" the better. Women in the Village felt gravely concerned over the prevailing uncertainty. The recent troubles had had a moral and psychological effect on the village. One woman had told wiaiess that she had lived for six weeks under the strain of f.earing that she might have to "get out" any day. Witness said that with uch home conditions prevailing, the work could not . progress harmoniously. - Cross-examined by Mr. Hair, Lane said he eoul'd not rememberchat Clapham's remark about church buildings was merely to the effect that social halls and hospital buildings should take priority over churches. Mr. Hair: From your comment about the surprise of some worker at the outcpme of the ballot, you are not inferring by anv chance that anvthing was the matter with' he ballot. . . Witn. a: No, I did not infev that To Mr. Shilton, witness said the ballot was not a secret one in tb true sense of the word in that it was conducted in open cubicles with people mOving freely abouf duiing voting. "I 'do not suggest it was faked," . added Lane. Hr opi iion of the workers at Manga kin H was that, althciigh nct ignorant. rnany of them were easily persuaded. Tc Mr. . H'a'nson, Lane said h' thought a , section of the workers ~ d sought another test of opinion after the strike ballot was taken but their efforts were squashed. a.1 ' being against the union's constitu'icn. Herbert Thomas Hicks, he9,c. painter at Mangakino, said he was a rnember of the executive of the iC'.el branch cf the union untiK !ast Octobc-r, when he refuse'd ren. mination beeause the Communists wsre getting a very srong hold and were stirring up political combat. He thpuglit, he could oppose' them better* as a free Iance. , Mr. Engel: How did Clapham get 1 on tlie executive. V/itness: Upfortunately, I nominated him. Mr. Engel: ■ We all make mistakes. Witness: I didn't know his leanings at that time. I have been a unionist for 40 years and I hope I Sm still a good unionist, but I' am against Communists. Clapham's influence was insidious, like a boil on your neck which you knew was there althopgh you couldn't see it. To Mr. Hanson, witness said he thought there had been three or four jesignations from the union executive since his own, , but. the reasons given in these cases had' been sickness. Witness thought there was a group or several liundred men at Mangakino pledged to fight Communism.