UNION PICKETS AT WORK

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 38

UNION PICKETS AT WORK

PETONE GASWORKS CASE. ACCUSED HEAVILY FIXED. WELLINGTON, June 23. 1 lie court proceedings institued against four late employees of the Petone Gasworks created considerable interest at I'etone this morning. 'juie men had to answer three charges—(l) With a view to compelling Robert Charles Dirk to abstain from doing an act which he had legal right to do, such act being to follow his employment at the Petone Gasworks, and did wrongfully and without legal authority follow Robert Charles Dick from place to place. (2) Steal a lamp and two motor cycle, valves, the property of Dick. , (3) Did wrongfully, and without legal authority, use violence to Dick. Ihe men charged were Bruce Ford, Ronald Ferguson, Peter Mullins, and George Janies Ferguson, who was in charge of the motor car used by the pickets, was 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 was 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 car. fhe 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. lie ij£xt saw the ear puiled across the road opposite the Taita Hotel. Dick then turne d back, with the intention of reporting the matter to the Hutt police, but the car turned and followed him. On reaching Kilminster’s 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 Ilutt 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 addressed to him, with the addition of : “You dirty scab.” In Kilminster’s yard Ferguson and Ford caught him round the back of the neck, and continued calling him a scabby . In the scuffle he (Dick) got a blow on the forehead. He did not know who gave it. Mullins came at him, letting drive several blows, which he managed to miss. He then got away into Kilminster’s kitchen. Mrs Kilminster, who had seen the affray, rushed out. As he went in he (Dick) locked the door. Mrs Kilminster went for her husband. Se nior 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 of 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 His homo, and there make a quiet explanation of the position from the men’s point of view. Each accused gave evidence on his own behalf. Mullins stated that lie was in a state of intoxication, and did not remember anything. The other 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 cf following, and was found not guilty on the charge of using violence. The charge of theft against James was withdrawn. The accused were given 48 hours to find ihe money, with the alternative of three mont hs' 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 was fined 40s and costs. FEDERATION OF LABOUR MAY TAKE A HAND. WELLINGTON, June 23. Tile dispute at the I’etone 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.