TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 27

TRADES AND LABOUR.

BERLIN, September 27. The electrical employees in Berlin, by an overwhelming majority, rejected the masters' terms of an advance of 5 per cent, instead of the 15 per cent, asked for. AN IMPORTANT CASE. OHRISTCHURCH, September 28. At the Lyfctelton Magistrate's Court today Christopher M. Hanson sought to recover £12 from the. Lyttelton Stevedores' Union as damages for having been prevented from obtaining work on the wharves for one month. Plaintiff gave evidence that during the slack period he. went away grassseeding, and on returning was suspended j from working on the wharves and fined £1 for being away. He did not pay the fine, and resigned from the union. For the defence evidence was given that the Canterbury Stevedoring Association complained about men going away grass-seeding, causing j a shortage of hands on the wharves, and the union had undertaken to prevent men going away on condition that they were granted preference. The rale of the union provided that no members should accept work from anybody outside the Stevedoring Association without a written permit, and a permit was not applied for by plaintiff. T.he case was adjourned for legal argument. The annual meeting of the Master 1 Plumbers was held on the 26th at their j rooms, Liverpool street, when the following , were elected ofnce-bearei-s for the ensuing 12 months: — President, Mr J. Douglas; vicc-porsidents — Messrs C. J. Jenkins and P. O'Driscoll; treasured", Mr H. A. Ross; secretary, Mr P. Walker; auditor, Mr J. Scott; committee — Messrs J. Foster, R. Proofcer, J. Wilson, iun. ; trustees — Messrs, W. BUs;don and J. Clark. *