VICTIMISED WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 15929, 8 October 1915, Page 2

VICTIMISED WORKERS

EIGHT OF APPEAL PROPOSED. • SPECIAL LEGISLATION. .[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. October 8. A Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives .to overcome the difficulty in regard to the alleged victimisation of waterside workers who were associated with the big strike ttfo years ago. It provides the right of admission to membership of unions in certain cases. In any case where an industrial union of workers is bound by an award or industrial agreement or other agreement in which provision is made for preference of employment for members of the union, any competent worker in the industry who is of good character and sober habits, and against whose admission to the union there is no reasonable ground of objection, shall, notwithstanding anything in tiie rules of the- union, be entitled to become a member of the union on application in writing, and on payment of such entrance fee, if any, not exceeding 10s as is prescribed by the rules of the union for the admission of members. Kverv application, if accompanied by a payment <ir tender of payment of the prescribed fee. shall bo deemed to be granted unless within seven days after the service thereof on the union notice in writing under the hand of the secretary is served on the applicant that it is refused. Any worker whose application as aforesaid is refused may appeal from such refusal to the Judge ot flic Court, or, at the option of tiie applicant, to any Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in the district in which the appellant resides. Notice of appeal is to be filed in the Magistrate’s Court within seven days after receipt by the appellant of notice of the refusal. If the .Indue or Magistrate allows the appeal, the appellant shall he deemed to have been duly admitted a. member of the union and entitled to all tire privileges and rights of membership. In considering any appeal under this Act the Court or Magistrate shall have regard (a) to the claim of the appellant that ho is a competent worker in the industry and is of good character and sober habits, and (b) to the claim by the union that the admission of the appellant to the union, or his retention therein, would be likely to disturb industrial peace.