UNION MEMBERSHIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1929, Page 8

UNION MEMBERSHIP

WATERSIDE TEST CASE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 5. A case of interest to the whole of New Zealand was heard in the Supreme Court this inorning. It involves the legality of industrial uniions limiting membership to a fixed number, and applies particularly to 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, before Justice Adams, sued the Committee of Management of the Lyttelton Waterside Workers’ Union for £5O damages for loss of work during part of the year. He asked for an order that the Committee should admit him as a member of the Union and accept fees tendered by him. The statement of claim said that defendants have -without just cause excluded plaintiff from obtaining the privileged status conferred by membership of the said Union, and which status plaintiff is entitled by law to acquire, and• plaintiff has been victimised by defendants, deprived of work and caused much damage by defendants’ determination to prevent him from acquiring the said status. The defence was that Gillard did not make proper application for member- ' ship by applying to the secretary and tendering a subscription. The hearing is proceeding.