INCITING TO STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 105, 30 October 1925, Page 16

INCITING TO STRIKE

UNION OFFICIALS BEFORE COURT DUTIES OF ENGINE-ROOM AND STOKEHOLJJ.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 23th October.

Further evidence was heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day in connection with the case in which the Labour Department claimed a penally of £.200 from the Seamen's Federation, of New Zealand on a charge of having incited or instigated an unlawful strike. The Department further claimed £100 penalties for alleged breach of award and for having taken proceedings with intent to defeat certain provisions in the award. The case was heard before Mr. B. C. Cnttcn, S.IL Mr. Berenclscn appenved for the Department and Mr. W. T. Young defended.

]Mr. Young, opening for the defence, said that the prosecution had proved no signature to the circular scat out io lhe men directing them that ticy should no longer work valves or ajiy other kind of machinery in the engine-room and stokehold of a. ship. As: a matter of fact, he had been authorised to prepare a circular by the executive of the federation, and took full responsibility for sf. JNo one should operate valves unless he was a duly certificated engineer. 33® contended that the award illegally imposed! on donkeymen and firemen ttie duty of looking after 1 engines amd amaliaxies, but with a view no doubt of extricating' itself, from any legal issue that might be raised as fas Jnrisffiction the Arbitration Court imserfei the words "as customary" after Hie word "auxiliaries.." TtiE zb£m 353. not leave their work; ihsj simply refused to carry out something iHsafi was unlawful and shorfd foe unlawful. 1 An incompetent man jMoili 2.< nt do the work of an engineer ad attend to machinery. Mr, Young alleged, that; many of the Nbrfhcra Company's, vessels were undenaajniiefl as far as engineers were comcenwifl, to the danger of the crew sad passengers*.

"The Magisfcatc: "What does; it matter Ix> job how many engineers, a Teasel eaaTiEsS"

Mr. "Yonntig: "When: a ship is unacranaiiacii our 1 men are required to aticaid to Tal"re3."

The Magistrate: "What is the obj«etiom to your men attending to valves'?" ' ■' ■ '

Mr. Toniig: "It is.illegal." Tie Magistrate: "So that is your objection! Ib the work hard?"

Mr. Young: "It is a matter of confining our men to work for which they arc paiiL" The Magistrate: "There is no harm in tlicm floing this work, then?"

■Mr. Tonng: "There may be a lot of harm. Inexperienced men may blow up tie ship. There are case* wfo-ers! inexperienced men have been BCTCxely injured through attending to valhnsE.."

Bißgaxding the refusal of the men in work, Mr. Young said it would harr* to foe proved that a-»command was Jlain-fnl l>cfore the prosecution CDUldl SlicdMMjfl.

Patrick O'.S&ea, assistant 1 secretary of lint jFcdera'cd Seamen's Union at A.ucldan.3, ssa4. that he had! worked as a. graasei" and donkeyman on ships, but jit was never his duty to attend to Talvffis.

Jolm Kydfl (Government Inspector of Ma-cMnttry) and Captain Thomas Atwood (Marine Superintendent) were also called! as witnesses.

The Court adjourned until toTDLDia'DTT.