WATERSIDERS' DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 9

WATERSIDERS' DISPUTE.

QUESTION OF ENGAGEMENT.

BROKEN WORK ON RAINY DAY.

[by. TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . . NEW,PLYMOUTH. Friday.

Have shipping companies the right to order off work watersiders standing by, and on the same day order thenv , back for work ? The question was raised in Court here to-day before Mr Modern S.°M when, the Inspector of Awards claimed penalties of £10 each ■ against .55 waSsidS, alleging that they .took part in strike. were engaged working the The men were engaged working the liner Opawa, '■ but on May 8 heavy ram prevented them from starting work. : m 'he morning. The men were ordered to stand by, and at ten' o'clock war* told to com/back at one o'clock, being paid two hours' standingly time from' eight to ten. At one o'clock only-five were Pr M? U J. Roberts, secretary of the Federated Watersiders, asked for an adjournJent, as the ! validity of the clauses m the award was being questioned in.; the Supreme Court. ~ • : - ;, ■ ■ J The magistrate- decided to proceed on the law as it stood. t;'; , ; ■ .. For the • plaintiff, evidence was givea that a stevedore had -told .he. mon; at ten o'clock, ■-:'.' All. hands back at one. | Only five were present, bup aU except one resumed next moaning, being told . by the foreman to go back to their old jobs. It vi as ; contended that there was no suspension of engagement. ''■■'• ■'■_• For the defence, Mr. Roberts quoted the definition of a', strike,' • and contended that there had not : been any collusion by the men, and no breach of, contract. He brought evidence to show that, the engagement of men had been suspended at ten o'clock. ' . '. ~ ; The magistrate said that the point : was it-. far-reaching one, and' he would give his decision in writing. - ,