SEAMEN'S UNION CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23994, 18 June 1941, Page 9

SEAMEN'S UNION CASE

NO APPEARANCE IN COURT PRESIDENT'S EXPLANATION [by tf.i.egr aph — PItF.SS association] WELLINGTON. Tuesday

In the Arbitration Court, Mr. F. P. Walsh, president of the New Zealand Seamen's Union, explained that, to his astonishment, he had seen in the press a report of a statement of Mr. H. liishop reflecting rti Mr. Walsh's conduct toward the Court.

Mr. Walsh explained that lie had not dealt with Mr. Bishop in the ease in any way. The whole of his negotiations had been with the secretary of the Km plovers' Federation. It was true that Mr. Bishop and he had spoken on the telephone. He had told Mr. Bishop he was not dealing with him in the matter and had hung up the receiver. He repeated what he had said when Mr. Bishop rang again. He had said in the early stages of dispute that it the intention of the union to refer the matter to the Court, as the union was of the opinion that it had nothing to do with the Court. The dispute was over a private agreement, made outside the Court, and he realised all the time that it was not legally binding. It was not the unions intention to come into the case, He thought that Mr. Bishop had made an unfair, untruthful and unfounded attack on him.

Mr. Bishop said he felt he had not been treated with courtesy by Mr. Walsh, and that, feeling was reflected in anything he said about Mr. Walsh. It was in explanation why the union was not represented, and not with any desire to make a personal attack on Mr. Walsh that he had spoken. He accepted Mr. Walsh s statement that he did not wish tc treat the Court with contempt and Mr. Walsh's assurance that he did not intend any discourtesy toward him. Fhev could now regard the matter as being disposed of satisfactorily to both parties.