UNFORTUNATE CASE OF A WATERSIDER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 48, 26 February 1914, Page 3

UNFORTUNATE CASE OF A WATERSIDER

BEFORE THE COURT. AUCKLAND, 25th Fcbruaiy. "There's no doubt ahotit tt, the strike has brought about most unfortunate results." lemarked Mr. V. V. Frazor, S.M., thin morning, when Mr. J. R. Luudon put in » plea of hardship on be-

half of a man who was charged that li|e was an idle and. disorderly person without means. Mr. Lundon's statement was that the man undoubtedly had no means at present, but that there were special circumstances. The man, a cripple, had been earning his living as 'a coal heaver, and was a total abstainer ; but he had been a member of the Federation of Labour, and had to go out on strike. The result was that he was unable to get into the new union, and consequently could not get work since the strike. He had obtained work on occasions, but not being a member of the union he had been put off when the officials observed him at work. He was a good workman, and the stevedores were willing to take him on, but under their agreement with the union they were subject to a fine if they kept on rryen who were not members of the union when there were union members available. Counsel suggested that the publicity given the case might induce the union officials to turn the blind eye if the man got work on the wharves. After some discussion, the police agreed to withdraw the charge of vagrancy, on condition that the man made another, application to become a member of Ihe Waterside Union.