LOST HIS JOB

Evening Star, Issue 19923, 20 July 1928, Page 2

LOST HIS JOB

union SECRETARY’S LETTER CLAIM FOR DAMAGES FAILS I_Peb United Puess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. July 19. .Alleging that through the action ol a trades union secretary he lost his employment, a unionist to-day ci.r.nied from the secretary £2O damages. Plaintiff was Francis Thomas Ander son, and defendant Ernest Charles Sutcliffe, secretary of tin- Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners’ Union. It was alleged that Sutcliffe wrote to Anderson’s employers: “You are employing a man called Anderson He is a non-unionist, and as two members of my branch are out of employment you must dismiss Anderson.” Plaintiff also d'f'arod that he was a unionist within the meaning of the award, but In consequenca of Sutcliffe’s alleged injurious, falsej and malicious statements, plaintiff was dismissed from his employment, and had been unable siftce to obtain employment. Plaintiff claimed that he was a member of the Lyttelton branch of the union, although at the time he joined he was not living at Lyttelton. For the defence it was stated that Sutcliffe, when he wrote that plaintiff was not a unionist, reallv believed this was a fact.

HTe Magistrate, giving judgment for the defendant, said plaintiff had failed to prove malice.