BAKERS' STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 290, 1 September 1908, Page 7

BAKERS' STRIKE.

■ A NEW PHASE. PROCEEDINGS MUST BE TAKEN ACAINBT UNION. ARBITRATION COURT'S DECISION. When tho Arbitration Court mot yostorday morning, Mr. Justice Sim mado an important pronouncement with regard to the nhitrges brought against bakors in connection' with; the recent, "strike. : ... His Hrnotir said that the court had looked into the evidence in theso cases, which showed shat the union had apparently proposed .tho ; strike, and tho • court thoughtthat, pfocecdmgs should bo taken against tho union. In tho-meantimo tho court would not deal with the cases against the men. The should take proceedings against tho union. This could be done at once, and tho court would fix.'Friday next at 10.30 a.m. for hearing tho case against the union.

Tho decision of the Minister for Labour (the Hon.-J. A. Millar), to prosecute not tho union,' but its individual members, was . announced) by him to a deputation of master bakers who waited on, him immediately after the strike commenced; About tho same time Mr! E. "Iregear (Secretary for Labour) Btited;?t<>'.;ft Dominion representative that proceedings were being ; taken- against the ' men/and not against the union, because tho Government wisned to avoid the delay which happened in connection with the' Blackball proceedings; ■ On that occasion they had to make application to seizo tho union's effects, but. tho linion .had no effects, and weeks passed before it. was decided to proceed against the meii individually. When,the charges, against the men were heard by . tho Arbitration Court last week, it frds .stated that about forty of the men had Signed a statement admitting the facts. Jesse lltirlen was convicted of taking part in 'a;strike,'and the court deferred, fixing tho penalty. ' Most' of the other respondents then , pleaded guilty. • ■ 'j'--: , , During- tho case against Androw Collins, charged with aiding and abetting,' in which the .ooiirt reserved its decision,. respondent stilted" that £100 had been originally put by for. fined', tho 'amount being arrived at from the analogy of tho Blackball strike, in which the court fined tho union £75. Respondent said; , in: evidence, • that he could not say whether the sum reserved had been expended since./ Subsequently, in pleading for mitigation of penalties, Mr. Wilford stated that this amount of ,£IOO had all ■ gdne to the strikers' wives and- families.