AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN

RECENT TRIAL OF SECRETARY. IMPROPER PRACTICES ALLEGED. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) CANBERRA, February. 15.. Late last night Mr Theodore caused a sensation in the House of Representatives by stating that ■ statutory declarations had been placed recently before the Attorney-general, alleging improper practices by Commonwealth officers and witnesses in connection with the recent trial of Jacob Johnson, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in connection with the Marine Cook’s Union trouble. One affidavit, sworn by Andresen, a member of the Seamen’s Union at Wellington, New Zealand, was- to the effect that he took notes of a meeting of seamen and communicated what happened to Mr Dillon, a representative of the Ship 'Owners’ Federation. Subsequently through Mr Dillon, Andresen alleged that he met Mr Longmore, a Commonwealth police officer, who induced him to obtain other witnesses for the prosecution, and that Mr Longmore supplied money for this purpose. Mr Theodore demanded a searching inquiry into these allegations. JOHNSON’S RELEASE REQUESTED. SYDNEY, February 15. (Received Feb. 15, at 9 p.m.) A deputation of. the Seamen’s Union to-day asked the Minister of Justice (Mr Lee) to release Jacob Johnson from gaol pending the outcome of any Federal investigation into Mr Theodore’s allegation that Johnson was convicted on false evidence. Mr Lee replied that he was unable to grant the request as the State Government was merely housing ■ a prisoner who had been convicted under the Federal Crimes Act. Jacob Johnson, general secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union of Australia, was convicted by Mr M’Mahon, S.M., at the Central Police Court oh August 25 upon a charge, laid under the Commonwealth Crimes Act, of having, between June 18 and June 27, attempted, by spoken intimidation, to induce the members of the crew of the steamship Barwon, including William Rigby and John Powell, to leave their employment, “ The seriousness of offences of this sort cannot be exaggerated,” said the magistrate in passing sentence, “ Strikes have a boomerang effect, and react most on those who engage in them, and on their wives and children to whom they bring untold misery. We all sympathise with these unfortunates. They look to the officials, whom they appoint, to guide them, and the officials of unions have a great public trust reposed in them. The workers of Australia believe that a day is dawning when this method of settling differences will be discarded. One is puzzled to find the reason for this kind of thing, and to wonder whether it is the result of fanatical hostility of one class of persons for another section pf the community,”