WHO IS "PETER HASLOCH?"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1920, 1 December 1913, Page 8

WHO IS "PETER HASLOCH?"

THE SEARCH FOR IIIM. HIS ALLEGATION DENIED. Vi ho is l'oter Ha.sloeh ? The whole waterfront wa.s exercised on Saturday in endeavouring to discover him, and the only trace ot him so far available is flint he accorded an interview to a Wellington morning journal which was solemnly published 011 November 29. Who lio happens t-o be, corporeally speaking, is one of those tilings which do not- yet appear. It was stated in print that Haslocli was a member of the Arbitration Union, and also that- he had conic to Wellington from tho Carterton district. Re was also represented as having made certain allegations against the treatment which has been accorded to members of the new Wat-?rsids Workers' Onion.

Investigation and Result. An. investigation of tho whole matter was made by a Dominion reporter on Saturday and Sunday, and the following particulars wero ascertained(l) No such name as "Peter Hasloch" appears 011 the books of the new union. (2) Exhaustive inquiries have been made in the Wa-irarapa district, and no man of that name is known there. (3) Mr. Bunny, who camc- down in charge of ilio Wairarapa contingent, has never heard of any* such man. (4) 'Tin? seiretary of tlio Carterton branch of tho Fanners' Union (Mr. L. 11. Smart) states that heknows no one of the name of Hasloch, or of any similar name, who was sent to Wellington from Carterton as ;t spcci.nl constable, or as a wharf labourer, by tiio Farmers' Union. (5) Every man who camo from Carterton to Wellington as a, "special" was sent through tho Farmers' Union. That body lias kept a record of all who have come into the city. Hasloch's name does not appear'in that record. (6) During Saturday afternoon a Dominion reporter was present when fully 330 to 400 men applied at the office of tho secretary of tho now union for meal cards, and not a single complaint against food, accommodation, or treatment was made.

Statement tsy Mi'. Long. When Sir. W. O. Long, secretary of tho Waterside Workers' Union, was approached lie said: "It is my linn opinion that somebody is trying to stir up strife amongst the men. Everything is going on so well that our opponcuts arc disappointed, and they arc doing their best to do us all tho harm they can. As far as I am aware, there is not the slightest discontent amongst tho men. Thc-y have never complained to me. 1 have asked the 'New Zealand Times' reporter who was interested in that report to bring the discontented men along to me. But so far he has not accepted my challenge. I can assure you there is 110 such man as Peter Hasloch registered in tils union or working' on Wellington wharves." Air. Long was then asked whether tiio men had shown any feeling at having to pay Cel. per bed and Gd. per meal as from this morning. Ho answered in the negative, and added that some hundreds of men visited the office on Saturday and bought their tickets without demur. There was only one exception and that was a-man from tho country who stated that ho had boon under the impression that Arbitrationists were to bo given free hoard and lodging till the end of the strike period.' The best, of good fellowship appeared to prevail.

It may bo mentioned that lodging has to be found for quite 700 men and food has to bo found for close 011 1100 men daily. It would no doubt ho a sort of Arcadia if everybody were perfectly satisfied, but, it may confidently bo stated that- complaints hardly exist. "Hasloch" Flatly Centradietoil. Tho folio wing signed statement was mado by two members of tho union wiio same from the Carterton district: — "As members of the Arbitration Union, wo wish emphatically to refute tiio allegations that tho members of the usiiosi have not been fairly treated. Wo mush regret that such statements should ha\c been made. We Jiavo been accommodated 011 tho -Mararo'a sineo wo joined the union, and tho conditions 011 board the vessel have- been such that there is 110 cause for complaint whatever. Wo do not kuoiv (ho conditions prevailing 011 the other boats, but, at any rate, as I'ar as tho .\fararoa. is concerned, any rea-sonable-minded man. must admit that the accommodation and i'ood are excellent. "As residents of many years' standing in tlio Carterton district, wo arc quite satisfied there is no Rtich man as 'l'eter Hasloch' living there, and wo could bring many others of tlio Carterton members of the union to vouch for the same fact-. "(Signed) E. A. GIUY. "W. BIiIDGE."

What Stewards Did. Regarding tho allegations of "Peter Hasloch" in connection with tho 31 auliganui that the Arbitrationists on that vessel wero badly treated in the way of. food and accommodation, il. appears that the stewards on tho vessel were the cause of the trouble there. It was stated in Saturday's issue that these stewards had refused to attend to tho officers and Arbitrationists who lmd volunteered to take the Maungnnu.i from Wellington to Lyttelton on Wednesday night. The Union Company's 'ocai officials stated that it- was never intended to allow tho volunteers id oriupy tho forecastle. As a matter of fact, arrangements had been mado foi them to bo accommodated in the passenger department. Through a misunderstanding, however, the volunteers went straight to the forecastle and found if. jnst ns tho men who had deserted the ship an hour before had left it.

No choices hive been taken by tho company as to the treatment nf the volunteers, who are now on board the -Mannganui, bound to Sydney. Four men have been ioid off specially to attend to them, and every provision lias been made for their comfort and convenience. . . . The vessel's previous trip irom Wolliitclon to Lyttelton had to be arranged'very hurriedly 0.11 account, of the seamen awl tiioiiien quitting the ship at the last moment, and this no doubt was responsible* for some of tlio conditions complained of. '.

LETTER BY WIFL SMART. (To the Editor.} Sir, —I have read an article in the "New Zealand Times" of to-day's date headed "Disgusted,'' and purporting to bo an interview with one "Peter llasloch," describing himself ns a member of the Wharf Labourers' Union, and erstwhile special constable, hailing from tho Carterton district. Jll reply I wish to emphatically state that no 0110 of that name (or of any name in any way similar) was sent from this town cither as a special constable or as a wharf labourer by the Farmers' Union. All special constables who wont from this town were sent under the auspices of tho I'armers' Union, and official records havo been kept of all who went, from the district, j'urther, 1 have a good knowledge of people living in tho district, and I do not anyone of that mime, and f have made inquiries of others who have lived in tho district liie.uv years and they know uoM'Sprv of "Hasloch."—l am. etc., • L. 11. SMART, Se'-retarv Farmers' Tnion, Carterton Brunch. CarturLou, November i! 0, 1913.