DID THEY "STRIKE"?

NZ Truth, Issue 252, 23 April 1910, Page 5

DID THEY "STRIKE"?

WHARF TOILERS CHARGED. Comrade Dowdall m Court.

"Comrade" John Dowdall, Socialist and stevedore, was eloquent at the Wellington S.M.s Court on Monday last, when he, with George G . Farland, assistant secretary of the Wellington Wharf Laborers' Union and 49 other toilers on the wharf, was charged with having participated m and aided and abetted m a strike on February 36 lasc. Mr C. E. Aldridge prosecuted for the Department ol Labor. Mr P. J. O'Kegau appeared for Farland and the men, save "Comrade Dowdall, who, armed witn paper, pen and pencil, statistics, Arbitration Court awards, and Socialist literature, defended himself. The whole of the trouble was due to the fact that on February 27, while wharf-workers were engaged m discharging a cargo of cement from the U.S.S. Co.'s Wanaka, one or two men used hooks, to which an objection was raised, the principal ground being that the bags were torn, and that the penetrating air deteriorated the quality of the cement. As a protest, workers next knocked oH j work, and this, it was alleged, constituted a strike. All day Monday was spent before Mr W. K. liaselden, S.M., m hearing argument m evidence. "Comrade" Dowdall was greatly to the fore, and more than once came into conflict with the Magistrate, who declared tbat Dowdall was doing all he possibly could to secure his own conviction. Subsequently, the question arose whether it was hot advisable for the Magistrate to state a case lor the consideration of the Arbitration Court. The Magistrate then set forth what he considered to be the case. He said he had very little doubt as to what the facts were. "My idea of the, facts," he continued, "are that there was a general prohibition against wharf laborers using hooks for the discharge of cargo, and that that prohibition was not enforced, and that there was a great deal of surreptitious use "of hooks to the damage of cargo ; further, that the damage to the j cargo was caused by the careless and im- j proper use of hooks, and that books can j be used for most kinds of cargo without damage, providing sufficient care is used; that on February 26, the Wanaka was at the wharf with 600 tons of cement cargo aboard ; that a large body ot men were engaged to discharge the cement which was m bags ; that there was no absolute — mark the word absolute — condition against the use of the hooka, and that after the work had proceeded for a little while direct orders were given by those m charge that any man using a hook wouid be discharged or knocked ofi work, j After, that two men were ( knocked ofi m i the morning. The work proceeded more or less satisfactorily till the afternoon shift, after the men had protobiy considered the matter and decided to use hooks ; and that upon the order being repeated that any man who used a hook was to knock off work, and being a specific discharge of at least two men for using hooks, the other men m anticipation of their own discbarge, knocked off work and came up. This is said to be a strike, and tbat toose who joined them afterwards were m the position of assisting m a strike. I express no opinion, and that is practically what I should submit to the Arbitration Court with the evidence I have taken." Mr Aldridge was not at first prepared to accept this as a clear of the facts. Mr O'Regan accepted it, but "Comradfc" Bbvdail wanted to go on, and said that his case could be settled m fifteen minutes. The S.M. : 1 .shall adjourn your case, .and then we might come to some agree--•ment. Ou Tuesday morning, Mr HaseMen first -asked for the "Comrade," who promptly announced bis presence, whereupon the S.M. said that he v/as going to adjourn bis (DowdaH's) case till next Monday. With regard to the other cases, the parties had agreed, to the statement of the case made by him. Those cases wouiti, therefore, stand adjourned uatil the judgment of the Arbitration Qowrt had been received. Mr O'Regan said he was satisfied. "Comrade" Dowdall wanted subpoeanas: Jor bis witnesses. The S.M. : We don't want witnesses. Dowdall : But I do. Tiie S.M. announced that all the cases stood adjourned pending the decision of 'the Arbitration Cocrt.