NON-SUIT ENTERED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 89, 14 March 1941, Page 4

NON-SUIT ENTERED.

UNION OFFICIALS CRITICISED. MASTERTON, March 13. Proceedings taken by the Inspector of Awards, Mr N. Peivin, against four men, R. Wilson, A. V. Esler, E. Homewood and H. Governor, lor failure to become members ol the New Zealand Workers' Union were quickly disposed of in the Magistrate's Court, Masterton, this morning, when Mr Lawry, S.M., after quoting legal opinion. entered a ’non-suit and awarded costs against the department. The. charges related to the employment of men in harvesting operations. At the outset of the case the Magistrate pointed out that it was necessary for the inspector to show that the men were parties to the award concerned, as an award was binding between a union, its members, and employers. The Inspector of Awards admitieci that lie had not prepared anything on these lines. “The facts are shocking, said air T. Cunningham, who appeared for the men. “This case is a curious one, one of those which the Labour Department likes to take as an example. Well, in this case the defence wishes to make an example. It is this sort of thing which unfortunately the men have to take lying down. The last two Court days have shown that the Labour Department is pin-pricked by certain union officials, and these pin pricks result in the men losing time. the union officials adopt a most truculent attitude, and at the best they are only troublemakers.” Explaining the position of the men, Mr Cunningham said they were members of the union a. month previously, but because of the attitude of the union official they joined up with another union. Esler was a member ot two unions, and while on holiday offered his services in harvesting operations. The first day on which he worked a union official adopted a most truculent attitude and demanded 25s union fees. “The attitude of these officials is absurd,” said Mr Cunningham, “and they are obstructing the work of the country.” “Unions were formed to protect workers against unscrupulous employers,” said Mr Lawry. “Unfortunatelv, however, there has arisen a tendency to use unionism to get funds lor unions by harassing the men.”