CLAIM FOR ENTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 11

CLAIM FOR ENTRY

WATERSIDERS' UNION

AN INTERESTING CASE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHEISTCHTJBCH, This Day

A case of interest to the wholo of New Zealand was heard in the Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Adams this morning. It involves the legality of industrial unions limiting their membership to a fixed number, and applies particularly to the waterside workers at main ports. The limitation referred to is authorised by the award of the Arbitration Court.

Edward Gillard, a waterside worker at Lyttelton, sued the committee of management of tho Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union for £50 as damages for loss of work during tho past year. Ho asked for an order that tho committee should admit him as a member of the union and accept the fees tendered by him.

The statement of claim said: "The defendants have without just cause excluded the plaintiff from obtaining the privileged status conferred by membership of the said union, and which status tho plaintiff is entitled by law to acquire, and the pla.ntiff has been victimised by the defendants, deprived of work, and caused much damage by the defendant's determination to prevent him from acquiring the said status."

Thd defence was that Gillard did not make a proper application for membership by applying to the secretary and tendering his subscription. The case is proceeding.