AUSTRALIAN UNION LEADERS APPLY FOR RELEASE FROM GAOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1949, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN UNION LEADERS APPLY FOR RELEASE FROM GAOL

SYDNEY, August 23.—Applications by eight union leaders for their release from gaol, where they are serving sentences for contempt of the Arbitration Court, were heard today. Also before the Arbitration Court were applications by the Miners’ Federation, the Waterside Workers’ Federation, and the Federated Ironworkers’ Association, for the remission of fines totalling £5OOO imposed on the unions. After hearing the apologies of the union leaders and addresses by counsel, the Chief Judge Justice Kelly) announced late.this afternoon that the court needed time to consider fully the various aspects of the applications, and would give its decision tomorrow afternoon. During today’s hearing, the three unions paid their fines. The cases are a sequel to the Commonwealth emergency legislation freezing union funds which might have been used to assist the general coal strike. The union leaders and their organisations refused to obey court orders requiring them to repay money allegedly withdrawn from banks to assist the coal strike, and were then penalised for contempt of court.