Contempt Action Dismissed

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 3

Contempt Action Dismissed

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 27. Informations against the “Evening Post” and the “Dominion” alleging contempt of court concerning an industrial dispute were dismissed in a judgment delivered today by Judge A. P. Blair in the Arbitration Court. Peter Michael Butler, secretary of the Labourers’ Union had claimed the articles complained of were in the form of news in the

two newspapers on June 20. “Both articles refer to a difference between the Labourer’s Federation on the one hand, and the Workers’ Union and the Federation of Labour on the other. It is indicated in the articles that the bone of contention is a clause in an award which provides that only members of the Labourers’ Union shall be employed in the tunnel access job on the Manapouri West Arm,” the judgment said. “It was contended by the informant that the publications were inaccurate and unfair and constituted ‘an interference with a matter before the Court.’ It can be said at once that the articles were not entirely accurate."

The facts were that publication took place on June 20 and that previously, on June 11 and 12, there had been a hearing by a conciliation council between the Labourers’ Federation and the employers. At the hearing an order was made joining as applicants in the dispute four unions of workers. Agreement in the dispute was reached on June 12. “The important point Is that at no time during this stage has the court any official cognisance of the industrial dispute." said the judgment. “We find the matters published on June 20 were not before the Court on that date, and, accordingly, the information will be dismissed."