PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 18 May 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Mayor of Eltham (Mr T. B. Crump) received word on Friday morning that his father was seriously ill. Mr Crump immediately left for Nelso i where his father resides.

THE AUCKLAND STRIKE.

JUDGE SIM CRITICISES THE LABOR - DEPARTMENT. "BRAVE SHOW OF ENFORCING LAW." In the Court of Arbitration at Auckland on Thursday Judge Sim, in the course of his judgment in the case brought by the Inspector of Awards against the Auckland Waterside Workers' Industrial Union to recover the sum of £200 as a penalty for inciting and instigating an unlawful strike by the workers engaged in discharging cargo from the steamer Paparoa at Auckland on March 22, said that it was clear that the secretary was aiding and abetting the men, but the question to be determined was whether the union could be held responsible for Collett's action. His Honor said that Collett's letters on the matter were signed by him as secretary of the union, but" Collett's action had not been expressly authorised by the union at a formal meeting. The Court held that Collett's acts could not be regarded as part of his duties as secretary of the union, for so long as a union was registered the promotion of strikes could not be cousideri ed as part of the business of the union. Judgment must, therefore, be for the defendant union. "It is difHcult," his Honor added, <:to understand why, in the first instance, proceedings were taken against the union, instead of against Collett and the men who took part in the strike. It is still more difficult to understand why when the question of the union's responsibility m the matter was raised iis the Magistrate's Court, proceedings in this court were taken against the union instead of against Collett and the men. The course adopted rather suggests that the object was to make a brave show of enforcing the law and at the same time not to incur much risk of hurting anyone." It is understood that steps are being taken with a view to bringing a similar action against the secretary of the union {Mr Collett) and members of the union who struck work while employed on the Paparoa.