ENGINEERS REJECT MANGAKINO TRIBUNAL IN STRONG TERMS

Grey River Argus, 8 April 1948, Page 6

ENGINEERS REJECT MANGAKINO TRIBUNAL IN STRONG TERMS

P.A. WELLINGTON, April 7 There is no longer room for both Communists' and engineers at Alangakino.” says a statement issued to-day by the Professional Engineers’ Association on the Mangakino dispute. For some time past the engineers had been prepared to accpe a tribunal to settle the dispute but the position had now assumed different proportions as, since the local union executive had induced ihe men to resort to strike action, it had gradually become know that there were several disruptive elements in the union. In pursuance of the policy of disruption, every one of those elements would be prepared to carry on from where Mr Clapham left, off, the statement continues “While they remain in a union position on tins job. continued organised disruption will be the order of the day,” it adds. “A tribunal, to determine whether the Government was within its rights in agreeing to the transfer of Mr Clapham, can, at this stage, be to nc purpose. “Clapham or no Clapham on the job, there are several more to follow in his footsteps under the cloak of the union to prevent the smooth runig of the job and further their own doctrines.” Farmers’ Leader Alleges Communist Tactics at Mangakino P.A. WELLINGTON, April 7 We are seeing a manifestation of Communist tactics at Mangakino at. the present moment, and it follows the usual pattern/’ said Mr A. P. O’Shea, general secretary of the Federated Farmers, who w r as the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce tonight. “I would say that few people realise how serious the threat to New Zealand the Communist meance really is,” said Mr O’Shea. “I believe that this is a matter which is above party politics. I believe too that when attacks develop on the Prime Minister, on Mr Semple, and on Mr Skinner—as they will—every decent person in the Dominion—should and will—be behind these Ministers. “We should tell the wreckers that they will not be allowed to do in this

country what they ■ have done in Queensland. We should tell them, in no uncertain terms, to get out and go to lands where the cult, of the concentration. camp is practised.”

MR SEMPLE TO SPEAK ON COMMUNISTS CHRISTCHURCH. April 7. “Inside the Government and outside, as a free citizen, I am going to’ roll the people cf New Zealand of the Communist menace in their midst.” said ihe Minister of Works, Hon. R. Semple, when, in a telephone conversation with a reporter, ho announced yesterday from his office in Wellington that he would visit Christchurch this week-end to expose the supporters of Communism. “Whv I Fight Communism,” will be the subject of the address which Mr Semple will give next Sunday evening in Christchurch. He said that the Slae Theatre had been booked for his ad'bess. “I will make, and will prove tome startling revelations in connection with the Communists and _ their methods and tactics, not only in this country, but outside.” “Communists have a stranglehold in Australia. They are ‘borers’ in the trade unions in New Zealand. They may be small in numbers, but they are now gaining control. The people will have to be told of the danger.”