ARREARS DISPUTED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 58, 1 December 1934, Page 9

ARREARS DISPUTED

Association Contributions

MAGISTRATE’S JUDGMENT

Arrears of contributions to the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen’s Association were the subject of a case recently heard in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, when the association (Mr. A. B. Croker) claimed from A. Thomson (Mr. R. Hardie Boys) the stun of £3/16/6. Judgment was delivered yesterday by Mr. E. Page, S.M., who held that the association could not recover more than 12 months’’ dues and that judgment would be entered for the plaintiff for £l/6/-, being 13 four-weekly periods at 2/- each.

The evidence, said the magistrate in his judgment, showed that prior to 1926 the defendant was a member of the plaintiff association. The rules at that time provided that all persons employed in the New Zealand Railway Service “and classified as tradesmen and apprentices” should be eligible for membership, but the rules contained no provision regarding the position of a member promoted to the first division. In July, 1926, Ute defendant was promoted to the first division of the Railway Service, but he continued for several years with more or less regularity to pay up his contributions to the plaintiff association. In January; 1929, new rules were brought in containing a provision, inter alia, that members promoted to the first division might, if they so elected, retain their membership by continuing to pay their contributions or .subscribing 10/- per annum as they preferred. The defendant, after this rule came Into force, still continued to pay up his contributions, his last payment being made on June 13. 1930, at which date his contributions (2/- per four weeks) were in arrear to the extent of 12/6. “In my opinion he was at that date still a member of the association, and he is therefore liable for the contributions incidental to such membership,” said Mr. Page.