UNIONS AND THEIR MEMBERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 311, 25 September 1908, Page 6

UNIONS AND THEIR MEMBERS.

When the Arbitration Court decided the other clay to introduce the new policy of suspending an award in .the event of a strike in the affected industry, a great deal of nonsense was talked about the hardships that might accruc to a union from the unauthorised lawlessness of a handful of men in some obscure locality. We were asked to imagine a union, full of that respect for justice and law which has b,cen so notable a characteristic of unions in the past twelve months, groaning under grievous but unnamed afflictions through the action of a few,of its members in striking with that indifference to their official leaders' wishes.which is peculiar to trades-unionists. It was a whimsical picture, but .one not impossible of conception to a very lively imagination. While the tumult was proceeding wo expressed the opinion that the -unions might find it possible, especially if they were so zealous in their objection to strikes, to protect themselves against unauthorised lawlessness amongst their members. A judgment delivered by Dn. M'Arthur yesterday goes to show that the unions do possess the power of protection referred to. A member of the Drivers' Union worked in a bakehouse during the recent strike of bakers in this'city, in defiance of a resolution by tho union bearing on the point. He was fined flO by the union under a rule that empowered tho committee to inflict fines n'ot exceeding £10 for unfair practices and breaches of the-union rules." The union sued for the money, and in giving judgment yesterday, Dn. M'Aethuk upheld the union's claim and gave judgment against the man for the amount of the line. In the course of his judgment he ruled out the contention that the union's rule was vltra vires: " Though a Court had the power to decide as to -whether a by-law was or was not reasonable, the Court should show every consideration to those in authority, and should be very cautious in interfering with their discretion. According to that,. and taking into account the requisites of a good by-law, there was nothing unreasonable in this- one of the union." Clearly, if a union can make a condition of membership, the. liability of a member to pay up to £10 if ho does not assist a strike, it can make membership carry with it the liability to pay £10, or £20, or £50, for going on strike. If the unions that have been protesting against the Arbitration Court's new policy wish to be given any credit for sincerity, they will pass some such rule forthwith. While the unions have this power, no attention can be given to their plea that they can-, not control their members.