SEAMAN'S CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 9

SEAMAN'S CLAIM.

ALLEGATION OF LIBEL.

UNION OFFICIAL IN BOX. MENTION OF COMMUNISTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON Saturday. The hearing of the claim of Douglas Gibson, a member of the Seamen's Union, for £000 as damages for alleged . libel, brought against Fintan Patrick , Walsh and Felix Newfield, officials of < the union, was continued to-day before Mr. Justice Blair. Mr. L. K. Wilson appeared for plaintiff and Mr. IS. P. ] Hay for defendants. Cross-examined by Mr. Wilson, Walsh ' said that Gibson endeavoured to under- I mine the constitutional methods of i running the union organisation and to turn it into a rabble. Gibson also did that during the Greymouth strike. 1 Gibson took part in putting up a candidate against witness for the presidency of the union. •He knew Gibson and those associated with him were getting their instructions from an outside political body, and that body was getting its instructions from a foreign country. ; Mr. Wilson: Did you know that Gibson voted against the Communist party on more than one occasion in the Trades Hall ? Witness: I knew that he argued certain matters with them. Mr. Wilson: Are you willing to withdraw the charge that plaintiff had "nefarious ways of earning a livelihood"? Witness: I never made the charge. I only reported it in my official capacity. His Honor: Counsel means, do you support that statement? Witness: No, I do not. Mr. Wilson: Are you willing to withdraw the charge that plaintiff was a party to wrecking the Australian union ? Conduct in Australia. Witness: I have already said plaintiff on his own evidence admitted that he was the chief executive officer of the Seamen's Union in Australia before he left for New Zealand. It has also been said against Gibson on his own statement that he was a party to handing out 100 union books for the purpose of removing an elected official from office in the Australian union. In view of those statements I was not satisfied with plaintiff's conduct as an officer of j the Australian Seamen's Union. Mr. Wilson: Are you willing to withdraw the accusation? Witness: Provided plaintiff can produce evidence to show that he was not a party to illegally handing out union books to non-members for the purpose of removing an elected officer. His Honor: Plaintiff was elected president of the Australian union, but did not- act. You say that is significant. What do you mean by that? Witness: At the time the union was in a turmoil, and Gibson took a leading part in the faction fighting that was going on in the union. Gibson became president, and I submit that it was his duty under the circumstances to have remained in his position. That | was desertion of the union on his part. Thomas Frank Benson, seaman, said lie was a member of a committee ot ' five which was set up in May, 1933, to ( consider a proposal to amend the con--1 stitution of the union. Witness was . secretary and Gibson was chairman. . Witness was approached by several , members of the union, who suggested that the committee should urge members after a subsequent meeting to ' expel the officials. Gibson, supported ! by others, made the suggestion. Wit- ' ness said he was non-committal. Mr. Hay: Were the members of that ' committee subjected to victimisation by the union? | Witness: The suggestion is absolute rubbish. Mr. Hay: What was Gibson's attitude 1 to the officials of the union? Witness: Absolutely hostile. The hearing was adjourned.