WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3040, 19 June 1912, Page 10

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

UNION SECRETARY FINED. AUCKLAND, June 11. Judgment was given this morning at the Magistrate's Court in the claim brought by tho Labour Department aguiiiat Jamas Collett (secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union ) 'for £2OO penalty for aiding and abetting a strike on November 22 in respect to the unloading of cargo on the Paparoa. Mr Selwyn Mays appeared for the Inspector of Awards, and Mr R. F. Way represented the defendant. -Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., said he was of opinion that it was overwhelmingly established that Mr Collett did aid or abet these men in their strike. A penalty of £2O would be imposed, and costs would be .allowed. Mr Way gave formal notice of appeal. Mr Kettle: I hope you will take it to the Arbitration Court, and I shall be pleased to give you every facility for doing so. WATERSIDE WORKERS PROSECUTED. AUCKLAND, June 13. A further sequel to the strike on the steamer Paparoa m Auckland en November 21 was the appearance of 15 waterside workers before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., in. the Magistrate's Court. Each man \va ß charged separately with being a party to the etrike, and in each caee a plea of not <guilty wao entered. Mr Selwyn Miays

conducted the prosecution, and Mr R. F, Way appeared for the defendants.

J. B. Jacobs, Thomas Ferguson, D. Hook, Carl Moller. T. E. Hmton. C. Holmes, G. Hanigan, Joseph Richardson, and Robert Robertton a.Il told similar etoriea when they entered the witness box. The effect of their statements was th*t abc«t 11 o'clock on the ir. — ; ? r November 21 rain interfered with discharging operations,, and the men accordingly stopped work. Some of them went to tine union room for a while, and others went home; but they all denied that they took part in any meeting that day. On the following day they came to work as usual, but were informed that a grievance was being "die-cussed in the meeting room., and that no work was to be done until the matter was settled. Each man denied that he participated in the proceedings at either meeting, or in any way was a party to the strike. In the course, of his--judgment Mr Kettle said he believed the men to be honest, and he thought they were telling the truth when they said they were not parties to the strike. He held that they went to the wharves on the morning of the 22nd November to work, and not to declare a strike. He thou eh t he would be doing the men a gross injustice if he did not believe them, and on the contrary ho did believe them. His Worship dismissed the charges in each case.

Robert Ainsworth .admitted that tiie question of obtaining extra pay had been discussed by some of the men on November 20 —the day before work was suspended. Witness and some others intended to ask for an increase in the rate of pay, but they found that someone ha<l anticipated th?m, and asked for more money. He did attend the meetings held in connection with the matter, but he said he would have gone to work as usual whether an increase had been granted or not. Ainsworth, said be was not a party to the trouble, and he added that ho was aga.mst strikes. This case, Mr Kettle said, was somewhat different from the others. He was not impressed with the way in which Ainsworth had given his evidence, but at the same time he was doubtful if Ainsworth was a party to the strike. He would give the man the benefit of the doubt and dismiss the charge.

Tho«. Woodward admitted that he attended the meetings, and moved certain resolutions. He said he did not go back

on the Paparoa because he -considered tjie work dirty, and he thought more money should be paid for the work. Mr Kettle said he thought it was clear that Woodward did not return to work because he thought more money should be paid for the work. Woodward was the leader of the meeting, and the resolution conve3'ed to Messrs Nearing and Co. asking for an increase in pay was tantamount to a declaration to strike. His Worship inflicted a fine of £5. \ In the case of C. Donald, who did not' appear, Mr Kettle said he was one of the present at the meeting on November 22. riis Worship had no doubt that Donald was influenced by Collett (the secretary) and one or two other men, including Woodward. A fine of £1 was inflicted. Charles Petersen, Joseph Shearer, and Deveport were fined £1 each. The question of costs in each case was adjourned. Mr Way gave notice of appeal in each case, and Mr Kettle, in granting leave, said he would give every facility to enable jbhe cases to be further ventilated in-' the Arbitration Court. i