ALLEGED SEDITIOUS STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5002, 17 October 1918, Page 5

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS STRIKE.

LABOR DEPARTMENT TAKES ACTION. CHARGE AGAINST THIRTYFOUR WORKERS. Vresa Association Telegram* OAMARU, Oct. 16. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, the Labor Department proceeded against watersiders on the charge that on July 26, 1918, at Oamaru, they were parties to a seditious strike, to wit, a strike of wharf laborers, which strike was seditious, in that it had a tendency to interfere with the effective conduct of an industry declared by regulations to be an industry essential for the public welfare, to wit, the loading and unloading of ships, contrary to clause 2 of the said regulations. The charge arose out of the alleged refusal of the, watersiders to work after 10 o’clock at night unloading the Kittawa, carrying coal. Mr McGregor, K.C. (Dunedin), for the Crown, said that no heavy penalty was pressed for, but tlie Department wished to have the obligations of men definitely laid down, as it felt there was a growing disinclination on the part of watersiders to work overtime. The Crown asked for an interpretation of the regulations and the men’s agreement. Mr. Ongley, for the defence, mrged that the men had fulfilled their part of the agreement, and they ■were entitled to cease work at ten o’clock unless due notice of the intention of the employers to have the working of special overtime given at the last call, namely, at 4.30 in the afternoon. This notice was not posted. After a hearing occupying some hours, the Magistrate (Mr. R. Bartholomew) reserved his decision.