UNION LEADERS RELEASED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 268, 25 August 1949, Page 5

UNION LEADERS RELEASED

One Judge Dissents AUSTRALIAN MINE STRIKE (N.Z.P.A -Copyright) SYDNEY, August 24. The Full Arbitration Court, by a majority decision, has accepted the apologies of eight union leaders who were sentenced to imprisonment during the coal strike for contempt of Court, and has ordered their release.

The Chief Judge (Mr Justice Kelly) said that he believed that the men’s regrets and apologies and their submissions to the authority of the Court were genuine. Any future retraction of their stated submissions, however, would mean that they had perjured themselves to escape imprisonment. The men concerned are Idris Williams, general president of the Miners’ Federation; George W. S. Grant, secretary of the federation; William Parkinson, vice-president of the federation; John H. King, secretary of the Western district of the federation; Maurice M. Fitzgibbon, secretary of the Southern district of the federation; James Healy, secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation; Edward C. Roach, assistant secretary of the federation; and Leslie McPhillips, acting-secretary of the Ironworkers’ Association.

Mr Justice Kelly announced that Mr Justice Dunphy dissented. Mr Justice Kelly emphasised that the union officials had been committed for disobedience of orders to pay in money and had not been punished tor any complicity in or incitement of the strike. The Court had demonstrated that it would take strong action 1o protect and preserve its authority and would do so again should the occasion arit=e.

Dissenting from the view of the other two judges, Mr Justice Dunphy said: “I agree with the decision as it affects Grant, but I am unable to agree that the other prisoners should be released at this stage.”

BALLOT PAPERS TO BE SEIZED ARBITRATION COURT DECISION SYDNEY, August 24. The first order under recent amendments to the Federal Arbitration Act was made by Mr Justice Dunphy today when he directed the Registrar of the Arbitration Court to take possession of ballot papers for the election of officers of the Sydney branch of the Boilermakers’ Society of Australia. The order was made on the application of an unsuccessful candidate for the position as secretary-treasurer. Mr Justice Dunphy announced that the papers would be sealed by the Registrar and held pending consideration. Counsel for the Boilermakers’ Society suggested that the question of jurisdiction might be tested.