THE ARAHURA TROUBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18247, 14 November 1922, Page 5

THE ARAHURA TROUBLE.

ATTITUDE OF THE CREW. UNION SECRETARY CHARGED The hearing of the cases arising sut of trouble which occurred on the Arahura on September 26 was continued at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M. A claim to recover a. £10 penalty for an alleged offence under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1908, was made by the inspector of awards, Mr. J. Hollows against Thomas Frederick Anderson (M? Holmden), branch secretary of tho Fedcrated Somen's Union. It was alleged that on the day in question, defendant adv, se d or incited a strike of firemen, trimmers, and greasers on tho Arahura such men being bound by an industrial agreement with the Federated. Seamen's Union 01 *ew Zealand. The crew of the Arahura refused to sail while seamen engaged to join the Baden-Powell at Gisborno remained on board. For the defence, Mr. Holmden said that Anderson, far from aiding or abetting any strike, was the person who settled it as ha got the Baden-Powell's men off the Arahura. Tho only evidence. brought against ths defendant was that he said to Mr. Rudd, of the Union Steam Ship Company, " I will take full responsibility. ' For the plaintiff to succeed, he must show there was some relationship between tho crew of the ship and the defendant. At 3.30 p.m. defendant received ji message concerning the trouble on the Arahura, and when he reached his office at 4 p.m. he found that tho Union Company had asked him to see about the trouble.

Defendant did not know what the trouble was, and when he reached the Arahura, the strike, if any, had begun. After seeing the firemen, witness met Mr. Rudd, and a conversation, as to the way of settling the matter followed. The argument became somewhat heated, and defendant admitted saying, " I' will take full responsibility." The only evidence for the plaintiff rested on that conversation, and if tho circumstances could be explained there would be no case to i answer.

Evidence was given by the defendant lon similar lines. He admitted saying to i Mr. Rudd that he ,wouM take full re- | sponsihility, but he meant that he would settle the strike if possible. After he left Mr; Rudd, he went to the Arahura, saw the men concerned, and the steamer sailed shortly, after. Decision was reserved^ POSITION OP STOKEHOLD HANDS. THREE OF THE MEN FINED £5. A claim to recover £10 penalty from each of 11 members of the stokehold crew j of the Arahura was made by the in- ; spector of awards, the allegation being' that they were parties to a strike by the firemen, trimmers, and greasers of the Arahura. Counsel for the defendants said he would consent to judgment for the plaintiff against three of the men, J. Wakefield, G: Hofdahl, and W. Healey. A penalty of £5 was imposed in each case. ; Regarding the other men, counsel said R. Howard, B. Chellew, and P. Moran belonged to the four o'clock x to eight o'clock watch, and they denied going on ' to the wharf. There was not a tittle of evidence against the remaining men, R. i Austin, J. Peckham, G. H. Chambers, G. Tucker, and M. Gonld. The magistrate said the identity of the men on tho wharf had not been established. The plaintiff's claim against tho eight men was dismissed.