HONOUR AMONG THE COOKS AND STEWARDS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 6

HONOUR AMONG THE COOKS AND STEWARDS

NO BLACK SHEEP WANTED IN THEIR FLOCK. Por Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Archibald John BV.yrnt, a steward, sued the Federated Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union for £23 damages before Mr Page, S.M., alleging he had been victimised and so prevented from obtaining employment. Counsel, telling the story, indicated that plaintiff had served a term in gaol for thefts and when he afterwards approached the Union secretary about a job on the Tahiti, the secretary replied: “I have seen the steward and you arc not going to get the job. We dd* not want crooks and criminals in the Union.” The chief steward refused plaintiff a job and later the secretary repeated the remark and handed back £3 paid as the Union due, saying: “Here is a present from the Union.”

A meeting of the Union resolved to re-admit plaintiff and Bryant had since offered to pay all dues owing, tne secretary hgd refused to discuss the matter. Counsel said it would not be denied there were a number of cxorirainals in the Union.

Mr O’Regan; “We deny that most emphatically.” He said there was nothing personal in the matter. Later Mr D’Regan applied for a non-suit on the ground that plaintiff had not established his case.

The Magistrate reserved decision on the non-suit point.