ALIEN WHARF WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 16628, 10 January 1918, Page 8

ALIEN WHARF WORKERS

PROSECUTION AT LYTTELTON, A case of interest to employers df casual labor was heard in the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court yesterday. AJgot Eorsberg and Walter Dixon were charged that, being unlicensed aliens, they were engaged in the work of unloading coal arom the steamer Ngatoro, contrary to clause 5 of the War Regulations of October It), 1917. Both pleaded guilty. Senior-sergeant Jackson stated that the two men were members of an overseas British ship which had met with a mishap in New Zealand waters. They were without permits, and when approached by the Blackball Company they assisted to unload the coaL Both men—one an American and the other a Swede—stated that they had no idea they were committing a breach cf the War Regulations in giving their servers for a half day when labor was scarce. Mr Bailey, S.M., in fining each man 10s, said the case did not call for a heavy fine, as the circumstances in which the men were placed were of a peculiar character. George Madden, a servant of the Blackball Ctoal Company, pleaded guilty to a charge ol employing the men, and Arnaud A. M'Kellar, manager of the company, also pleaded guilty to a similar charge. Mr M'Kcllar said the coal was urgently wanted for meat companies. In fining the manager 10s, Mr Bailey said it was only a small breach of the regulations.