FISHERMEN'S UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 6

FISHERMEN'S UNION.

QUESTION OF CONSTITUTION. RECOMMENDATION OF THE COCRT. Argument was heard at the Arbitration Court this morning in the case of the Auckland Fishermen and Trawlers' dispute, the question at issue being the constitution of the Fishermen's Union. Mr. S. E. Wright, who appeared for the employers, stated that the Fishermen's Cnion was registered in February, 1015. This union was a union of line fishermen, who were not employees in the ordinary sense of the term. They owned their own boats, caught their own fish, and even employed men. and sold their catch to the highest bidder iv the open market. The advent of the trawlers roused the antagonism of the line fishermen, whose union still remained the snme, and retained their antagonism to the trawlers. Messrs. Sanford, Ltd., objected to being included in a union which was opposed to trawling. For that reason it was asked that Rule 4 of the award, which provides that the. union shall consist of bona fide fishermen, be amended so that it apply only to employees and not also to line fishermen as at present. The number of men employed in catching fish on trawlers in Auckland only totalled about 16, as against some 400 line fishermen, consequently the latter could at all times outvote the former.

FNidence as to the position of the trawler employees was given by Alfred Sanford.

H. E. Barnsley, secretary of the Auckland Fishermen and Trawlers' Cnion, stated there were boats engaged in carrying fish between Auckland and Thames. These men carried schnapper from Auckland to Thames, and took flounder back to Auckland again, and in between times were engaged in catching fish. The membership of the Trawler Employees and Fishermen's Union only totalled 23.

His Honor pointed out that as the rules stood at present it was open to any man to hire a boat, catch fish for a living, and claim membership of the union. It seemed to him that the proper way would be to form a union comprised solely of trawler employees.

On the recommendation of the Court the secretary of the union agreed to make application to have, the union limited to trawler employees.