Unionists Sue Fellow Members

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1949, Page 4

Unionists Sue Fellow Members

DUNEDIN, Tue. (P.A.)— Alleging acts of victimisation by fellow union members at the Dunedin tramsheds, Andrew Baxter, William Henry Summers, Gordon Anthony Bryant and Harold Mowat Paterson were plaintiffs in an action, which began before Mr Justice Kennedy in Dunedin yesterday. . ; Several cartoons, allegedly ridiculing the plaintiffs, which had been displayed at the tramsheds were produced as exhibits. Plaintiffs claimed £4OO damages, an injunction restraining defendants from again publishing the cartodns, and the costs of the action. The first defendants were William Benedict Richards, president of the New Zealand Tramways Union, and 13 other Dunedin tramway employees. The second defendants were the New Zealand Tramways Authorities Employees Industrial Union of Workers. £1 LEVY Outlining plaintiffs’ case, Mr C. L, Calvert said that in August, 1947, a levy of £1 was made on each member of the local branch of the union. The' four plaintiffs refused to pay, because they claimed that the- levy was unconstitutional. «

The validity of the levy was tested before Mr Justice Christie in the Supreme Court and his judgment was for the plaintiffs. From the uaie of that case plaintiffs had been subjected to a campaign of vilification and intimidation' at the tramsheds. Counsel said a series of cartoons appeared at the carsheds. The first appeared in the locker room on October 17, 1948. On it was depicted an open grave with three dead rats and one approaching a trap. An inscription read: “In unloving memory of three, and one that went away. Died Supreme Court, Dunedin. No R.LP.” At the time the cartoon appeared one of the plaintiffs had left' the union. SYMBOL ON TOMBSTONE Mr Calvert said that a tombstone ready for erection was lying near by. He said that a pound symbol was on that cartoon and on most of the others which appeared later. The symbol would refer to the £1 levy.

After describing subsequent cartoons; Mr Calvert dealt with the fifth, which was in the locked union notice board. This was later removed by the management. In the cartoon, the defendant Richards was shown on a rock and behind him was a body of men, obviously members of the union, on a rock labelled “unity rock.” Three other men were struggling in the “levy swamp” and a fourth had regained firm ground. Counsel said that the four plaintiffs had never been opposed to the union i and all had taken part in the Dunedin strike last year. Evidence was given by 14 witnesses; mostly tramway employees. It was alleged that malicious telephone calls had been received by two of the plaintiffs, that grease had been * smeared on Summers’ Locker, and cards received by him with the ia» scription, “Rat" (Proceeding.)