A UNION'S FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 32, 6 August 1914, Page 2

A UNION'S FUNDS

INJUNCTION SOUGHT TO RE« STRAIN PAYMENTS IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT CASE. An interesting and important case, involving the status of the Wharf Labourers' Union, is set down for hearing at the Supremo Court to-morrow, at 2. p.m. The plaintiffs are James George Bruce and George Hunt Gray, wharf labourers, Wellington, and the defendants Joseph L. Radclift'e, T. J. Ladd, Hugh Callaghan, Archibald Black, W. Chandler, James Shand, E. J. Jones, and E. Murphy, the executive of the Wharf Labourers' Union. The plaintiffs claim an injunction of the Court restraining the defendants from : (a) Employing as secretary any person other than C. A, E. Purdoy ; (b) employing or appointing an assistant secretary of the' union without the sanction of the union ; (c) from making any payments out of the funds to any member of the union, other than the properly appointed secretaiy of the union, C. A. E. Purdey, until a baknco-aheet has been submitted ; a meeting of tho union has beon held to consider the question wbithor John L. Radcliffe, E. J. Jones, E. Murphy, and W. Chandler shall bo removed, from office ; a meeting of tho union shall have been held at which the rules of_ the union shall be altered so as to provide for the election of officers of the union. The statement of .claim s'&ts Out that the plaintiffs are both financial memb-rs of the Wellington Wharf Labuuretn* Union. On 22nd July they served on Mr. E. J. JonCb (secretary) a notice that it was their intention to attend upon him during olttce hours to inspect the books of the union, but on 'iSril July, when they called at the office, the eei"»etary refused to allow them to do ,<o. For somo time past (the statement of claim continues) the executive Of the union have paid themselves for attendances at meetings of the executive, and other authorised payments have been made. ' On or aboi^t Bth December, lMo". C. A. E. Purdey was appointed hivreI tary of the union, and on 17th April was superseded from' office by Mr. J. L. • Radcliffe (president). Such suspension was duly considered at a specially-con-vened meeting ot tlip union, held on or about 15th June, and a motion by the 1 president that C. A. E. Ptirdcy be re* 1 moved from otiice was negatived by 153 1 vowi to 55, a secret ballot being taken. , 'The executive of tho union (the stateI mend of claim alleges) have refused to allow thn said C. A. E. Purdey to carry out the duties of Becrctavy. The rules of the union at present in force (it is submitted) do not comply with the pro* vicious of the Industrie I Conciliation and Arbitration Act, in that they do not provide for the appointment of Officers of the union. To remedy this defect, a Rules Revision Committee was duly appointed on 36th Juno, but the union have not had a proper opportunity of considerii £ tho rules drawn up and expressing opinions thereon. In support of the injunction, affidavits by J. G. Bruce. C. A. E. Phrdeyi and A. Bl.ick ha-vo been liled. At the hearing, plaintiffs will be r«prr«,cnted by Sir John Findlay, K.C., with Mr. W. Sim. and Iho defendants by Mr. li. F. yon Haast. „..v — „,..»»,..,...■.,.. ,