OWNERSHIP OF HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 10

OWNERSHIP OF HALL.

DISPUTE AT WAIHI.

PROCEEDINGS IN COURT.

THE .RIVAL UNIONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN correspondent.] Waihi, Tuesday. The question of the ownership of the Waihi Miners' Union. Hall was before Mr. F. J. Burgess, in the Warden's Court, today, when the Waihi Trade Union of Workers (the old Federation union) proceeded against the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Union (the new arbitration union), claiming £500 damages and the possession of the building now held by Messrs. Alfred Butler, James, Dawson, and Edward Summers, as trustees on behalf of the defendant union.

The statement of claim set forth that the complainant union was the lawful owner of tue building known as tlie Miners' Union Hall, and tho land, which had been unlawfully and by force taken possession of ly members of the defendant union on November 17, lal2, when tile officials and members ol the complainant union were forcibly ejected, and the sate and other property tnerem seized. The members of the defendant union had since held and occupied the land and building, and treated them as the property of the uelendant union.. The complainant union, accordingly, asked the court to decree that the name of Edward bummers (formerly a trustee of the old union and now a trustee of the new union) be removed from the register as one of the joint owners, and the names of W. H. Morton and A. Fogarty added as joint owners, to act with W. J. Hales as trustees for the -complainant union; that a sum of £000 be ordered by way of damages; that the said land and building be declared the property of the complainant union, and that an order bo made that possession thereof be given forthwith by defendants to the complainant union. Messrs. P. J 0 Regan and T. A. Moresby appeared for the complainants, and Dr. H. D. Bamford and Mr. E. J. Clendon for the defendants In Ins opening address, Mr. O'Regan said that this was the first time the Warden's Court m New Zealand had been called upon to decide such a dispute. Referring to the history of the complainant union as set out, he submitted that the hall had been built by the money of the members of the complainant union. He would submit authorities later to show that the legal right of the complainant union was not in any way disturbed by the occupation of the property by the defendant union. lhe evidence of Mr. R. E. Hayes, registrar of industrial societies and trades unions, and Mr. F. W. Rowley, deputy registrar «f industrial unions, taken at Wellington, was put in. This showed that the plaintiff union was a duly registered trade union from August 15, 1911, an d that the Ohinemuri Miners' and Battery Hands Industrial Union of Workers (defendants) was registered on September 26. the registered office of the fatter union was the Victoria Hall, Waikino, and no notification had since been received of anv cnange of office. . The afternoon was devoted to the hearing of evidence in support of the claim.