SEAMAN’S DISPUTE AND INTIMIDATION

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3579, 9 April 1927, Page 9

SEAMAN’S DISPUTE AND INTIMIDATION

Ship Held up if Plaintiff Employed - & ' ■ y COMPANY RECOGNISES BOTH UNIONS " * [Per Press Association.j WELLINGTON, Last Night. ?v A. W. Wheeler, assistant-general manager of the Union Coy., gave ovidence to-day in the case in which James Brennan, seaman,'is claiming -''vj £SO damages from T. P. Walsh, sea* man, of Wellington, Felix Newfleld, ,-'tseaman, of Lyttelton, and tho WellIngton Federated Seamen’s Industrial' : '.J Union of Workers on the ground that '1 he had been wrongfully prevented fro.m obtaining employment by .threats . ( against his prospective employer. - ■ He said that on March, 8 Young told him that Brennan had been engaged for ,th« Kalma and that ho had reason to believe i 1 that some objection might he taken. Next morning Newfleld called ; and eald he believed the crew would refuse to sail it Brennan were «*-. gaged and ■he thought It better the company should be told about the mat- ; : ter rather than have the ship hield-up. Newfleld said Brennan was not a -'..v member of the Union and not entitled to preference. 'Witness told Newfleld that the 1 company looked on the mat- v ter as a'domestic dispute'ln which It was not concerned, and'he hoped In .Vk the general Interests that the men of ■ the Kaimat would reconsider their at- ; ' tltude. '.■V; After further discussion, witness advised Smith, of the Industrial Depart- ■ :-;i ment of the Company to make an* *■,; ’ other engagement The Interview. wttk . Newfleld was quite harmonious. Noth'. ■' Ing else in the nature of a threat Wai . i.-/. made. ' fThe company had extensive dealings ; ; with Walsh’s Union. An agreement made last year was usually worked on. During the past two months he V had worked more with Walsh than 1 Young. His company recognised both ::iv Unions —In fact, treated them as one.' He had heard from Young that an . ■ attempt would be made to intlml*. ,j,. ’ date Young’s followers. ■ -S' DISTANCE NbW ANNIHILATED. WONDERFUL AND BENEFTCIENT ■, ACHIEVEMENT. ' I' •'! • ' (Received Friday, 8.15 p.m.) : LONDON, April 8, Tho morning papers feature tho opening of beam wireless with ■ editorials, numerous special messages, and photographs of, the operating' : room' at the Q.P.O. during the trans- , mission of messages, to Australia. ; The ’’Dally says: 'lt was said when the ordinary telegraph system was began that distance was annihilated; What was then only a , figure' of speech is a statement of fact to-day! There is now practically. Instantaneous communication both wwya \ between the.heart, of the Empire and the most* distant sister. State. , In drawing together of'peoples of the Empire at least as much can be effected by cheapening press messages as by any other agency. But In all ways the’ now service must open a new chapter in Empire relations.” . i, •, Tho ‘‘Morning Post” says that those who were cynical about .the’ British. . Empire as an organism too wide to,, spread ■ and "tho cumbrous to continue -’' muiit now revise their opinions In the light of. beam achievement' .The “Dally News” says that not all ; scientific triumphs can be hailed by humanity with unqualified rejoicing.; '. ;; But tho ftlinost miraculous Improvement In communications Is a feat as bcneflciont as It is wonderful. - ‘ ■ ... 15-MILE-AN-HOUR BY-LAW ATTACKED. . ■ —** ' CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. A by-law of the Rlccarton Boroug) situated just outside the city bound* ary on the Main South and West road was attacked In the Magistrate's Court to-day. ; ■ '. The by-law prescribes that motor* must reduce speed to 15 miles an houi . , when within 2 chains of an intersec- \ tion, It was argued that the speed prescribed was needlessly slow and that In any case reduced speed over so great a zone as 2 chains before ai) intersection was unnecessary. Decision was reserved.