UNION PICKETS AT WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18280, 24 June 1921, Page 5

UNION PICKETS AT WORK

PETONE GASWORKS CASE. ACCUSED HEAVILY FINED. - : “A r; SGR ACEFUL PIECE OF BUSINESS.” (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 23. The court proceedings insdtued against' four late employees of the Petone Gasworks created considerable interest at Petone this morning. The man had to answer three charges—(l) With a -view tp compelling Robert Charles Dick to abstain from doing an ant which he #ad legal right, to do, such act being to follow hia employment at the Petone Gasworks, azto’ did wrongfully and', without legal authority billow Robert Charles Dick from place to place. (2) Steal a lamp and two motor cycle valves, the property of Diok. (5) Did wrongfully, and without legal authority, use violence to Dick. The men charged were_ Bruce Ford, Ronald Ferguson, Peter Mullins, and George James Ferguson, who was in charge of tUo motor car used by f the pickets, yas alleged to have driven the other three men after Dick when he left the works. Senior Sergeant Bird said Dick resided at Upper Hutt, and used a motor cycle and sidecar. Dick left work at 4 p.m., and waa followed shortly afterwards by a car containing the accused. The car passed Dick travelling at a high speed,' when certain, -remarks were made at Dick from the oar. The car shortly afterwards pulled up across < the road. Dick, to avoid it, took a side road, and came out on the main road some distance further on. He next saw the car pulled across the road opposite the Taita Hotel. Dick then turned back, with the intention of reporting the matter to the Hutt police, but the car turned and followed him. ,i On reaching Kilminster’a residence Dick pulled the motor cycle to the side of the road, and went to Kilminster’s house. The three accused followed him, and called Dick a scab. Two caught hold of him and injured his shoulder. They took out) the valves of the motor cycle tyres and took them away. Robert Charles Dick deposed that when the motor car passed him at Lower Hutt the three accused called out: ‘You dirty, rotten, scabby .” He heard Ford, Ferguson, and Mullins use the words- On : reaching Taita School the car passed him again, when the same language was Tad: dressed to him, with the addition of: ‘You dirty scab.” In Kilminster’a yard Ferguson and Ford caught him round the back of the neck, and continued calling him a scabby ' . In the scuffle ho (Dick) got a blow on the forehead. He did npt know who gave it. Mullins camp at hin|, letting drive several blows, which he managed to miss. He then got away into Kilminster’a kitchen. Mrs Kilminster, who had 1 seen ’ the affray, rushed out. As he went in ho (Dick) locked the door. Mrs Kilminster went for her husband. , . Senior Sergeant Bird stated that he had. previously explained the law as regards following and obstructing to the men who were acting as pickets at the gate of the works. One of them gave his assurance that all they were doing was making a peaceful explanation of their side ot the story to anyone seeking work. The defence was a denial that any language or violence was used. That the intention was to peacefully follow Dick to hia home, and there make a qujet explanation of the position from the men’s point of view. , Each accused gave evidence on his own behalf. Mullins stated that he was in a state ol intoxication, and did not remember any- ■ thing. The ether accused denied the charges regarding the alleged use of the word “kill” mentioned by one witness, and said they explained to Kilminster what they were there for. That they were not going to kill the man. Ford, Ferguson, and Mullins were each convicted, and fined £lO each on the first and third charges, the second charge being withdrawn. James was fined £lO on a charge of following, and was found not guilty on the charge of using violence. The charge of theft against James was withdrawn. The accused were given 46 hours to find the money, with the alternative of three months’ imprisonment. The magistrate characterised- the actions of accused as most cowardly, the whole action being “a rascally, scoundrelly, and disgraceful piece of business.” _ _ Ferguson was also charged with driving a motor car at an excessive speed, and waa fined 40s and costs. PETONE GASWORKS DISPUTE. A SERIOUS TURN. FEDERATION OF LABOUR MAY TAKE A HAND. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 23. The dispute at the Petone Gasworks has now taken a serious turn, owing to the dismissal of four carters for refusing, to carry coal from the railway station to the gasworks. The four men concerned were employed as drivers by the Petone Borough Council. This morning they were ordered to transport a quantity of coal from the Petone railway station to the municipal gasworks. They declined to do so, and were instantly dismissed. It is believed that the men acted as they did out of sympathy with the stokers dismissed by the council, and concerning whom the present trouble originated. It is understood that the dispute will now be placed in the hands of the Federation of Labour.