LABOUR WORLD

Grey River Argus, 9 April 1927, Page 5

LABOUR WORLD

RIVAL SEAMEN’S UNIONS. SHIPPING CO’S ATTITUDE. ’’WELLINGTON, April 6. A. W. Wheeler, assistant general manager of the Onion Co., gave evidence to-day in the case in which James Brennan, seaman, is claiming £5O damages from P. Walsh (seaman, Wellington), Felix Newfield (seaman Lyttelton), and the Wellington Federated Seamen’s Industrial Union of Workers; on the ground that he had been wrongfully prevented from obtaining employment by threats against his prospective employers.

Wheeler said that on March 5 Young told him that Brennan had been engaged for the Kaimai, and that he had reason to believe some action might be The next morning Newfield called and said he believed the crew would refuse to sail if Brennan were engaged, and he thought it better that the Company should be told about the matter rather than have the ship held up. Newfield said Brennan was a member of the union and nof entitled to prefer- < once. Witness told Newfield that the 1 Company looked on the matter as a domestic dispute in which it was not concerned, and he hoped in the general interests that the men of the Kaimai would re-consider that attitude. After further discussion witness advised Smith of the Industrial Department of the Company to make another engagement. The interview with Newfield was quite harmonious. Nothing in the nature of a threat was made. The Company had had extensive dealings with Walsh’s Unian. The agreement made last year was usually worked on. During the past two months, he had worked more with Walsh than Young. His Company I recognised both Unions, and in fact, treated them as one. He had heard from Young that an attempt would be made to intimidate Young’s followers.

Mr. Young’s Evidence. THE UNION’S DEREGISTRATION. WELLINGTON, April 8. In the Seamen’s Union case, William Thomas Young, Union Secretary, said that, for many years past, he had acted as Secretary to the Seamen’s organisations. Up to last year, there were three unions known as “locals”—at Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin—registered under the I.C. and A. Act. There was also an organisation known as the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zea land Industrial Association of Workers. Witness was Secretary to both the Wellington “Local” and the Associa tion.

Witness stated that a postal ballot among the members, early in 1926, approved of the deregistration of the three “Locals” and of the Association under the I.C. and A. Act, by an overwhelming majority', the subject of this step being the formation of one big union. In May 7 last the cancellation was granted, and by the 22nd of July an agreement as to wages and condi tions had been approved by the three “Locals,” and signed in the name of the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand. Witness continued that dissension later on arose among the officials of the movement, and there had been trouble between officials ever since.

Mr Hoggard: “What happened on the 25th of January?” Witness: “That was a famous day. A large number of men, headed by a man who was Mr Walsh’s vigilance officer, demanded of me to hand over the keys and the offices to Mr Walsh. I declined to do either. Then the mar who acts as Mr Walsh’s vigilance officer puts his hand in my pocket and —r—”

Mr Hoggard: “You needn’t go into details! ’ ’

Witness: “Well, we were put out I’ve still got the keys, though!” During further cross-examination by Mr Hay, witness said that, in his opinion, the Wellington “Local” functions on moral grounds after it was deregistered. He contended that the rules of “Local” had been carried on, with amendments, into the organisation that was formed under the Trade Unions Act.

After further evidence had been given by the witness, Mr Hoggard said he had no more evidence to call. Mr Hay said that he would call at *least five witnesses when the case again came on for hearing. An adjournment to the 28th of April was granted. TORY SUPPORT FOR ANTI-TRADE UNION BILL. (Received April 8 at 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 7. The Metropolitan Division of the Na tional Union of Conservative Associa tions has adopted a resolution welcom iiig the Trade Union Bill, particularly its political levy provisions, and the Division undertook to support the passage of the Bill. A CLASS WAR MEASURE. LONDON, April 8. The Executive Committee of the Trade Union Group of Members of the House of Commons have carried a resolution describing the Government Trade Union Bill as “a declaration of class war,” and “a suppression of the workers’ rights which w'ould foment industrial hostility.”

Liberal Party. CONDEMN GOVERNMENT’S BILL (Received April 8 at 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 7. The Parliamentary Liberal Party has passed a resolution which, while condemning the General Strike of 1926, as an abuse of Trade Unionism, expresses the opinion that the admitted uncer tainties of the present Trade Union law would, before any amendment, need elucidation by an impartial inquiry; at the same time regretting the introduction of the Government’s Tradej

Union Bill, which would hamper the ef forts to promote industrial peace, and would divert Parliament’s attention from public economy and social reform.