UNION SECRETARY’S APPEAL

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 10

UNION SECRETARY’S APPEAL

FINE FOR INCHING STRIKE. '['ho Arbitration Court rat, at Welling11in yesterday to hear an appeal from the decision of Nlr W. Meldrum, stipendiary magistrate at Greyninutli, for lining William Balder,stone a. nnion secretary at Blackball, £25 and costs for a breach of a section of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act by inciting and instigating an unlav.'fnl strike of workers employed in Blackball coal mine-. The- case was heard at G.reymonih. when the following facts were proved or ad initted:—Defendant had worked as a coal miner during the. twelve months preceding the trial. Purina Unit period he held the appointment of secretary to the Black ball Coal .Miners' Industrial Union. During (hat time and previously he held the appointment of cheek weigher under seclimi 86 of the Coal Miners Act. A redne. lion was rnado by tho company from the miners' wages for the payment of a weigher. Defendant on December 12, 1921, and during the preceding twelve months, had not been a worker under the award. The magistrate held that defendant was not a. worker within (he meaning of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and hence was liable to a. penalty not exceeding £2OO imposed on “any person other than a. worker’’ by section 6 of tlm Act as for a breach of lliar feci ion. Accordingly the magistrate cave judgment for plaintiff (the Inspector of .Awards) for £25 and costs. Mr P. J. O’Regan appeared for (ho appellant and Air R. T. Bailey for the Inspector of Awards, the- plaintiff at the original hearing. Mr O’Regan submitted that within tho meaning of the Act. if a penally inflicted was found to bo incorrect it was not compotent for the magistrate to inflict a fine on tho worker exceeding £lO. lie submitted that appellant came under tho definition of a- worker in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. After hearing argument the courl; reserved its decision.