ALLEGED VICTIMISATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 48, 25 February 1914, Page 8

ALLEGED VICTIMISATION.

TALLY CLERKS' DISMISSAL. PLAINTIFF NONSUITED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) .WELLINGTON, Tuesday. ' In the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. ' Riddell, S.M., the Inspector of Awards sought to recover from Messrs. Bannatyne and Company, Ltd., £25, as a •penalty for a breach of the provisions of fc-ection 60 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Act, •190 S. in that they employed, on December i>3, 1913, as a tally clerk, E. V. youcard, and dismissed liim from such employment merely because lie wae president of .the 'Wellington Ships' Tally Clerks' Union. Mr. Bailey (Inspector of Awards) said this was rather an unusual case. During the recent industrial trouble the employers issued an ultimatum that they would not recognise any union unless it ■was registered under the Arbitration Act. The tally clerks formed a union on December 11. Foucard, president of the union, was engaged by the company cv December 23. lie started a little after eight o'clock, and shortly after nine o'clock Mr. Nathan, one of the principals o£ the firm, strolled along and "passed th« time of the day" with him. >Soon after, a. messenger came from the office and told Foucard that a man named OUiver had .been appointed in hi~ iplace. Evidence was given toy Foueard, and 'the secretary of the union read a minute notifying the appointment of Foucard as president. Frederick Chas. Olliver said he took Foucard's place on December 23 by the order of .Wright, who engaged the clerks for the Anchor boats. He (Olliver) was not a member of the union, and- he did not think that half the tally clerks belonged to it. Witness heard it rumoured that Foucard was president of the new union, but he did not see any notification to this effect. The Inspector of Awards said that he ■interviewed -Mr. Nathan with reference to the alleged breach. Mr. Nathan said he was aware of the formation of the Tally Clerks , . TJnion... He .told witness that half of the members of the new union were "wasters, 7 ' and he would not employ any of them. The magistrate said there wae no evidence to show-- that Foucard had been appointed president of the union on December 11, ...Plaintiff would be nonsuited. *„. ''.'