AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 August 1936, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS

UNION OFFICIAL FINED

SYDNEY, July 28

At the Collarenehri Police Court to-dav Robert Morgan, chairman ot the ’ Pastoral Workers' Industrial Union, was fined £2O lor inciting shearers at Dunumbral station to cease work. He was ordered to pay £4O azcosts and witnesses’ expenses, in default 109 days’ imprisonment. Three weeks were allowed for payment. It was stated in evidence that defendant was one of a number of men who went to Dunumbral station, neai Collarenebri, and addressed the sheaiers. , Defendant was alleged to have said: “We want to force the Judge's hand, and our efforts are already having this effect. Western Australia was excluded altogether from the award, and they got no award there. If we had not made this fight. New South Wales would have been treated in the same manner. Tliis fight can be won easily and quickly if you men join us. This is the key shed of the district, and we advise you men to go to the boss and demand a 25-per cent increase all round. The flies aie eating the sheep, and they must be shorn. The Graziers’ Association are afraid of its members giving way. Onlv last night, on the wireless, Mr. Allen, the secretary, appealed to his members to hold out for a few days longer. You men don’t want to be known among your fellow workers as the men who broke the strike.” Defendant stated that he had no evidence to offer. He gave notice of appeal. Fran): Tattam, James Ileferan, Jolm Allen, and Sol Mitchell were each fined £5 on charges arising out of incidents at Collymongle station. There was no appearance of the defendants.

Evidence was given that the men were ordered off the station and refused to go. The police were summoned. and one of the ' defendants was alleged to have said: “Here are the servants of the master class, who are here to defeat the poor workers from getting their just rights.”