JUDGE'S CONDEMNATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 8

JUDGE'S CONDEMNATION.

WARNING TO - WATERSIDERS IN MELBOURNE. . The summons calling upon the Water- j side Workers' Federation to show cause in Melbourne why penalties should not be imposed in. consequence of the refusal of members to load flour and butter at the Port of Melbourne for export came before Mr. Justice Higgins in the Arbitration Court recently. • Robert Uurkett, speaking on his own behalf, stated that ho had said he would not handle flour whilst the price of bread was so high. He now saw he was in error, and was prepared to undertake loading flour in the future. "As a result of the undertaking on behalf of the federation that it would do everything in its power to see that the award was carried out properly by the men and Uurkett's undertaking that he would obey orders, Mr. Starke withdrew the summons, but re. fcained the right to take further proceedings if the undertaking were not properly carried out. Mr. Justice Higgins said it was a. fatuous absurdity that a few men at some port in Australia should dictate what is or is not to be exported. . "I can only say," he said, "that if I, find this course of action repeated—if I find members of the union breaking their contracts, if I find that the union does not exert sufficient control over its members— I shall regard Has my duty to re-open some of the questions settled by my award, For instance, I have fixed the minimum rates, which have been an immense relief to members of the union. These minimum rates are binding on employers, but I shall decline to continue the protection of the Court to the union whose members are trvincr to make law for the public by breaking their own contracts. I state this for the guidance of the unions if similar . cases should occur." .";- '. i