MINER’S APPEAL.

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1922, Page 3

MINER’S APPEAL.

BLACKBALL UNION SECRETARY'S I CASE. • ARBITRATION COURT RESERVES J JUDGMENT. j I (Fer Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 2. At the Arbitration Court, Justice Frazer, Mr Scott (Assessor for employers), and Nir Reardon (Assessor for the employees) sat to-day to hear an appeal from the decision of Mr W. Meld rum, the Stipendiary Magistrate, at Greymouth, fining William Balderstone, Union Secretary at Blackball. £25 ami costs for breach of a Section of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, by inciting and instigating an unlawful strike of workers employed in the Blackball coal mine. The case was heard in Greymouth, when the following facts were proved or admitted:—That the defendant had worked as a coal miner during 12 months preceding the trial. During that period he held the appointment of Sec- ; retary to the Blackball Coal Miners’ Industrial Union. During that time, and previously, he held the appointment of Check Weigher. Under section <B6 oi the Coal Miners’ Act, a reduction was made by the company from the miners’ wages for the payment of the ('heck Weigher. The defendant, on December J2th, 1921, and during the preceding 12 months, had not been a worker under the award. The Magistrate held that the defendant was not a worker within the meaning of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. ami, hence was liable to a penalty not exceeding £2OO imposed on “any person other than a worker,” by Section 6 of the Act as for a breach of that Section. Accordingly, the Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff, the Inspector of Awards, for £25, ami costs. Mr P. J. O’Regan appeared for the < appellant., and Mr R. T. Bailey for the Inspector of Awards, the plaintiff at the original hearing. Mr O’Regan submitted that, within the meaning of the Act, it the pen ally inflicted was found to be incorrect, it was not competent foi a Magis trate to inflict a fine on a worker excepting £lO. The definition of a “work” in the Industrial Conciliation add Arbitration Act. After hearing argument, the Court reserved its decision.