TROUBLE AT MINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23965, 15 May 1941, Page 10

TROUBLE AT MINE

OBJECTION TO LEVY PATRIOTIC DONATION UNION SUED FOR DAMAGES (0.C.) HAMII/TON, Wednesday The objection of two miners to have deductions made from their pay for patriotic purposes, and their subsequent alleged inability to'obtain work in the mines, led to the two men concerned, Matthew Gardner, of Pukemiro, and Gordon Partis, of Huntly, seeking to recover £282 and £3lO damages respectively from the Northern Coal Miners' Industrial Union of Workers in the Supreme Court at Hamilton, to-day. The case was heard before Mr. Justice Johnston and a jury of 12. Mr. J. P. Strang appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. F. W. Schramm represented the defendant union. The first plaintiff, Matthew Gardner, said that, while employed at the Pukemiro collieries on June 25 last, he received a few minutes' notice of a meeting of the union to consider a contribution to the Sick and Wounded Fund. The meeting, by a show of hands, agreed that each employee should donate a day's pay to the fund. Objected to Method Witness said the meeting developed into a rabble and a dog-fight. He was too disgusted to vote. He did not object to the cause, but to the method employed. He told the cashier at the mine not to deduct the donation from his pay. Some of the contract miners earned up to t2 5s a day, but they were required to contribute the minimum day's pay of 23s sd. A further meeting was held next day, witness continued, and the unionists present decided not to work with those who had refused to contribute to the fund. As a result, witness lost his employment. Some others who had refused to pay had since changed their minds and had been reinstated. The matter of the contribution had nothing to do with the union, said witness, and he could not afford the payment at the time. Owing to the objection of the union, lie had failed to get work with any of the other mines, and he was without employment for nix weeks. To Mr. Schramm, witness said it was explained at the meeting on June 26 that the miners did not stand well in the public eye, and if a contribution were made to the patriotic fund it would help to improve the position. Witness told the meeting that the move was only a political one. He did not know where the union would draw the line in making deductions from the pay dockets. At Mine for 18 Years Asked why he did not approach the president and secretary after the meeting, witness said if lie had, he would have been bullied down. He regarded the methods employed as a system of blackmail. He would not have anyone interfering with his pay docket until his family's needs were met. Witness said ho served in the Navy in the last war. Ho had been at the mine for 18 years Gordon Partis, in giving corroborative evidence, said the meeting on June 25 was described by the secretary as a dogfight. He said he would not be dictated to by the president of the union, or anyone else. He had previously contributed to the fund, but he objected to anyone interfering with his pay. Eight members voted against the motion confirming the levy. One was a Communist. The manager told Gardner and himself that as soon as the differences with the union were settled they could resume work, but if ho employed them until then, the other men would gft on strike. Another Miner's Evidence George Ridley, miner, said several members had previously contributed to the fund, and when they tried to point this out at the meeting they were waved aside. Many of those present did not vote for the motion. Witness said he objected to one employee being required to contribute 100 per cent of a day's pay and another 50 per cent. He did not suppose it was fair for members to go back on the union's decision. Many speakers voiced their objection, but they assented to save trouble at the mine. Witness said he had paid his contribution. but he objected to the sum being deducted from the docket. Cecil Leech, trucker, said many members objected to the levy, but would have made a voluntary contribution. He had paid in order to save trouble. The case was adjourned until tomorrow.