CLAIM FAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1938, Page 6

CLAIM FAILS

AGAINST FORMER SECRETARY. J* (Per Press Association —Copyright) AUCKLAND, March 10. , Further evidence was heard in the Magistrate’s Court in the claim by the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies Labourers’ Industrial Union of Workers against its former secretary, Bernard Clews, for the return-of a motor-car_and bank hooks, or alternately £230 and £lO damages for their detention. The case, which opened a week ago, was resumed before Mr W. R. McKean, S.M. At the conclusion, the Magistrate said that the union had to act only through its executive officers, and these officers in turn had to be appointed according to the rules of the .uuipn. been pojhted out this; .particular union in a repent Supreme .Cburt decision,’'but there" had ' been ' recurrences of actions which should not have been .permitted by ,men .upon, whom the need for acting properly had been so impres-1 sed. - ;. At the election: of-officers, before the dismissal of the defendant, non-mem-bers had been allowed to vote, and it was also absurd to suggest that, members should be deprived ,of the right to require a secret ballot in the. act. Since a general meeting might attract only a certain number of members, it might be considered desirable to have an expression of opinion from the w)iole of the hnio'n, but iri this case such Arequest bail been asked . and ignored. N" Mr McKean said be could not snv in the circumstances that the men who claimed to be the executive really were the executive. The position, as he saw it, was that a person who had been elected at the general meeting and had been re-elected again and again, over 20 years was entitled to shew that the persons who bad dismissed him had not, been raised to the position according to the rules: of the union. Judgment was given the defendant with costs.