FREE LABOUR ABUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 6

FREE LABOUR ABUSED

WHArtF WORKER’S INDISCRETION. WARNING BY MAGISTRATE. Frederick Victor Pistor is a“frce” labourer on the Corinna, and when his ship was being berthed at the Dunedin wharf on December 15 he was called a variety of names bv loose gathered on the waterfront. The expressions that he claims to have heard cast reflections on himself and his familv in uncomplimentary terms, but when Walter Kennedy was charged in the City Police Court yesterday with using abusive language to him Mr If. W. Bundle. S.M., found that the only term that could be sheeted home was "soibby.” ihe case for the prosecution ws.s conducted by Senior-sergeant Mathieson, and the defendant’s case was pleaded by Mr irwin. In opening the cose the senior sergeant said that the ship was at the wharf side when a lot of was used. M be complainant recognised the defendant, who appeared to bo in an excited state, and who called Pistor ‘ a scabby Ho also cast serious reflections on Pistor’s wife and family. The offender was recognised and tiie witnesses were secured when the Corinna was available. Tic Sr cior-sergeant emphasised that the offeree was graver than appeared on the surface, ns conduct of the sort with which Kennedy was charged might easily lead to a serious breach of the peace. Evidence was given for the prosecution by the complainant. Constable Enwrjgbt said that ho heard a lot of had language, and he identified Kennedy as an offender, and .John Martin and Harry Riddell, who were working with Pistor, also gave evidence. Pistor said that he considered Kennedy had a grudge against him. In opening the case for the defence, Mr Irwin said there was no evidence to corroborate the story told by Pistor. which, on the face of it, was incredible. The position was that on the date in question Kennedy approached Pistor and asked for some money which the latter owed him. The other witnesses slated that they heard obscene expressions used. but. they could not say that Kennedy used them. The union to wnich Kennedy belonged itself on the fact that its members had never said anything to the free labourers on shea’s coming into the port, Kennedy denied the charge, stating that he was not in the vicinity. He had never had a quarrel with the. complainant, who was nevertheless the most disliked man on the wharf. Asked by Senior-sergeant Mafhicson if he w’as aware that a waterside worker had already been dealt with for abusing a free seaman, witness replied: -us: a -ody wo don’t disagree with them; there has been not one w r ord of discord between the strikers and the waterside workers during the whole time the strike has been in progress.” Slenior-sergennt Mathieson: Well, if yon are such a law-abiding lot why has it been necessary for a policeman to patrol the wharf since the strike?—l don’t know. We are 240 strong, but the police do not get much to do with us. There is .nobody. When informed by the Magistrate that

lio was there to answer questions and not to give speeches, Kennedy said that it pot on his nerves to hear his class run down. Constable Enwright was recalled, and was •questioned by the Magistrate as to identifying the defendant. The Magistrate classed the evidence as most conflicting. It was nevertheless clear that obscene language had been used by the wharf labourers, who generally speaking, had a good name in Dunedin. He was quite satisfied that Kennedy was a man who lost control of himself when excited and that he would then use expressions that he would not recall afterwards, nc (the Magistrate) found that the expression relating to a “scab” had been used. The action of a certain section of the watersiders who, working themselves, did not do so in harmony or at least in silence with the free labourers was to be deprecated strongly. Nothing was more likelv to lead to trouble and fights than the abuse of the free labourers by the waterside workers. If another case of the sort came before him he would- treat, it much more seriously, but in view of Kennedy’s previous good character he would order him to pay only the costs, amounting to £2 3s.