SEAMAN’S SUIT

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1935, Page 5

SEAMAN’S SUIT

AGAINST UNION Question of Breakup (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 10. Cross examination of witnesses . on various aspects of the shipping dispute "I" July August. 1934, was continued in ’I" Supreme Court in AVellington to* <’ay. Hu- fourth day of the hearing of th* <a>e brought by Douglas Gibson, who, with others, was expelled from th*- Wellington Seamen’s Union. Gibson ’s claim for an injunction overruling lire Union’s action, and for .£lOO damages is being heard by the Chief Justice. As a result of an observation previously made by His Honour that it was possible that the Union’s decisions which plaintiff was alleged to have disobeyed, were themselves unlawful, the general methods of the Union offi rials in the dispute were among mat ters examined. The principal evidence was given by the President of the AVellington Union, F. P. Walsh, who said that Gibson was expelled because he was working to divide the membership of the Union when there were attempts tn ge‘ an agreement with the shipowners lie- did not help the majority, but helped the minority. Because he did not agree with some of the officials, he wanted to break up the Union at the expense of seamen. He went, in an underhand way. to break down the de cision of the majority. This decision was made by the four main centres. It was that the seamen could hang on until things improved, and then get their wage cuts restored. “This is a case, it seems to me, that will be decided one way or the other, (at present T do not know which way), on fairly broad issues” His Honour commented, before calling an adjournment until to-morrow.