RIVAL UNIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 April 1927, Page 5

RIVAL UNIONS.

INTIMIDATION ALLEGED

NEW ZEALAND SEAMEN

(HY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, April 9.

William Thomas Young, Union Secretary, gave evidence to-day in the case in which James Brennan, seama.ii, is claiming £SO damages* from T. P. Walsh, .seaman (Wellington), Felix Newlield, seaman (Ly'ttelton), and the Wellington Federated Seamen’s and Industrial 'Workers’ Union on grounds that he had been wrongfully prevented from obtaining employment by threats against his prospective employers. Young .said that for many years past ho had acted as secretary to seamen’s organisations. Up to last year there were only three unions known as “the locals” at Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. There was also an organisation known as the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand, an industria union of workers

Witness was secretary to both the Wellington “locals” and to the association. A postal ballot among the members early in 192(5 approved the de registration of the three “locals” ant. the association under the J.C. and A Act by an overwhelming' majority, tie object of the step being the formation of “one big union.” In May the cancellation was granted, and by July 2i an agreement ia.s to wages and conditions had been approved by the three “locals,” and signed in the name of th< Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand. Dissension later arose, among the officials of the movement, and there had been trouble between the official ever .since. Mr. Hoggard : What happened on January 25? Witness: That was the famous day. A .large number ol' men, headed by Walsh’s vigilance officer, demanded thai 1 hand over the keys, and (lie offices lo Walsh. I declined to do either. Then a man who acts as Walsh’s vigilance officer puts his hand in my pocket and — Mr. H oggard : You need no( go into details.

Witness: Well, we were put out. I’ve still got the keys, though. During further cross-examination byMr Hay, witness .said that m In’s opinion the Wellington “local” functioned on moral grounds after it was de-regis-tered. Ho contended that the rule “local” had been carried on. with amendments, into the organisation formed under the Trade Unions Act. After further evidence had been given by witness, Mr Hoggard said he had no more evidence to call. Mr. Hav said that lie 'would call at least five witnesses when the case again came on for hearing. An adjournment to April 28 was granted.