REFUSED ADMISSION TO UNION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 73, 19 December 1929, Page 12

REFUSED ADMISSION TO UNION

WATERSIDER’S CLAIM SUCCEEDS

SUPREME COURT ISSUES ORDER

Dominion Special Service.

Christchurch, December 18.

An order was made by Mr. Justice Adams in the Supreme Court this morning for the issue of a writ of mandamus commanding the Lyttelton Waterside Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers to recognise Edward Gillard as a member of the union and to enrol his name in the register of members. A claim for £5O damages for alleged loss of work was disallowed. This was an important judgment on a case which was of great interest to watersiders. Gillard set out in his claim that he applied to the secretary of the union on September 15, 1928, for membership to the union, at the same time tendering the entrance fee and the half-yearly subscription as prescribed by the rules. He alleged that his name was entered on the list of applicants, but he was not elected. Plaintiff claimed that he had been unlawfully excluded from membership and that he had been ’on several occasions debarred from obtaining work. Through the refusal of the defendants to admit him as a member, plaintiff claimed £5O damages for loss of work. It was alleged by defendants that the membership had been limited to 700 under an agreement. Gillard also set out that he was of good character and of sober habits as required by the rules.