N.Z. WORKERS’UNION REPLIES TO THE ENGINEERS’ ASSN.

Grey River Argus, 8 April 1948, Page 5

N.Z. WORKERS’UNION REPLIES TO THE ENGINEERS’ ASSN.

Union Principle At Stake—Not Communist Tactics P.A. WELLINGTON, April 7. “The statement from the Professioinal Engineers Association in regard to the Mangakino dispute was long overdue,” says the Head Office of the New Zealand Workers) Union. “It will be recalled that, in January, we endeavoured unsuccessfully to have a discussioin with the Association to place before them our side of the case, and to hear them in a spirit of conciliation. Their members at Mangakino claim a long experience in negotiation and in contact with the Workers’ Union. But at no lime did they indicate to us that usual and established procedures of negotiation were being violated by Mangakino “Local”, or bv Mr Clapham. The engineers have admitted since me dispute arose that Mr Clapham’s approaches have always been courteous and correct, and that they could specify no charges against him. Had we been furnished with the grounds for legitimate complaint by the engineers, it would have been our duty to investigate, and, if necessary, tj take suitable action. We know that great efforts were made by the Ministry of Works to bring charges that could be sustained against Mr Clapham, but we were informed that no charges could be specified. “It will be noted that, at early stages of the dispute,, it never was ever suggested to us that the Ministry rested its case on the. right to transfer a workman. Conditions applicable to transfer are well established by practice, and noe of those conditions applied to Mr Clapham’s case. “Transfer” was abviousiy admitted. merely a case of “deportation without trial.” Such a manoeuvre has been attempted by a section of our members before to-day against an engineer, and we resisted that as strongly then as we are resisting it against Mr Clapham. “We too have had long experience in industrial negotiation on public works, and can claim that, at least equally with the engineers, we under stand the need to promote harmony in the interests of efficiency. But 'methods of suppression, persecution, and wielding the' big stick have no place in our ideas as to bringing about these desirable results. “The engineers could have well refrained from a gratuitous insult to the intelligence.of the men at Mangakino in alleging that they have been duped and persuaded to see Un ion principle where none exists. Wc sav advisetly that, the men required no persuasion to discern the principle of Unionism and to realise the inevitable consequences of its surrender. These men are not dupes of Communism. No do they dook upon Mr Clapham as any sort of a genius. The overwhelming majority of supporters of the Labour Government. But they are disappointed and shocked to find that they are being denied an elementary right to ventilate thencase before a tribunal that the Government itself has sponsored, and that powers and privileges possessed by the State are being used to bludgeon them into submission.” Counter Action To Communists in N.Z. p A WELLINGTON, April 7 “Every loyal New Zealander can pull his or her weight towards countering, in a practical way, the moves of the Communists.” said Mr Gordon D Stewart. President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, m lus presidential address at lhe annual meeting of the Chamber. “The person who says: ‘This is no affair of mine,’ is either a coward or a fool,” he said. “We can all give support to those organisations winch uphold the British way of life, and we can make sure that they do not come under the control of Communists. By collectively making these organisations strong and effective, by offering to serve on such organisations wherever possible, by countering disloyal of subversive elements in our midst, we can help to preserve the British way of life. Everybody can help. We are fighting aginst apathy to-day, although the greater bulk of the population is opposed to Communism. many people are not. orepared to do anything about it. There is strength in numbers to combat this meance.