THE DIXON CASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 15

THE DIXON CASE.

, DISCUSSED BY FARMERS' UNION. IBT TBt,Ea«ArB.-rßrj£ClAli COKhEBPOSDBNT.), •"- ..'Cliristchurch, May 29. ;V-Af >'tho" •"'Ojii'bh' 'CoiifcreHc'e _this.. ; morning rcforciico was -niado to tho Dixon 1 • case, which cxcitcd.sp much interest.in Auckland and the Dominion a fow weoks ago. . Tho matter was introduced.by Mr. M. J. Dixon (CuSt), who moved* that tho Confercnco oxpress its sympathy with ' Mr. Dixon in.. accepting tlie T prmishmcnfc of imprison- , mont in support of " his principles and as a protest; against an ynjust law. The mover said that a man had tho pluck to go to ■ tho gaol in support of his principles lie.rendered a public service: They - had seen in connection with'tlio Blackball strike a considorablo amount of- trouble, and humbug over tho law against tho .stnkors, but 111 Auckland the caso "rent against the employer. Ho had a pnvato agreement with the man in • his eniploymont, and ho thought tho Arbitration Act could not interfere. In spite of , .. this, agreement Mr. Dixon was taken to ; Court, and sooner than; pay the' fino lie took.. '.i? tho alternative of imprisonment. Mr ; Dixon - had ontorcd his emphatic protest against tho Arbitration Act,' and tlio farmers who had objected to tho Act should sympathise with him. -Mr. Dixon was no relation to tho v speaker, but lie was nevertheless a credit ,to ■ the Do-jiinion.' ■■ A ■ .. Mr. Ruddenldau' seconded the motion. Mr. Wilfred Hall said that" it tnifeht not be wise'for tho Conference to pass this mo- . tion. Itjajas entirely a matter.for Mr. Dixon, who had, elected to take J;lie penalty of imt prisonm|rit. l • 'Ho-might' have ithought that lie was .entitled to make the agreement, but . ho certainly, was not so entitled. It seemed ; to the speaker that Mr. Dixon should liavo paid the fino and b.ack.'pay, tho employee wa3 entitled to by- lft'w.' The President (Mr.. D. Jones): "Hear, ■ : hear.'';-: -"y... ■■ ' Mr. Warren said, that Mr. Dixon-paid tho fine; but;r'efused to .pay tho back pay. Tho impression in Auckland was that the man -. was entitled to it; : Mr. Leadley said that the motion should , notjhave: been brought before tho Confcronco officially. , His sympathies woro with Mr. Dixon, but the 'Conference should not offici- . ally express sympathy. ; Soveral other delegates,deprecated tho motiori'being proposed, while others supported it. Ono delegate remarked that the Confor- - ■ enco had condemned employees for breaking tho law, and it was now proposed to approvo ■ of a breach committed by an employer. .. Mr. Dixon declined to withdraw the moi tion, which was put and lost, v i