REFUSAL OF MEMBERSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3671, 22 July 1924, Page 30

REFUSAL OF MEMBERSHIP.

COURT ENDORSES UNION’S ACTION. GREYAIOUTH, July 19. In the Arbitration Court to-day the Inspector of Awards applied for a ruling whether the Waterside Workers' Union, in refusing membership to a certain applicant against whom there was no strong evidence of bad character or insobriety, had thereby lost its right to preference. The union secretary (Mr Kirk) stated that two men had left their work on the whart owing to the applicant’s behaviour, and several complaints had been received from other watersider workers respecting the applicant’s alleged bullying habits. The applicant had been expelled from the union for arrears in his subscriptions, which later were paid. When he applied for re-admission he had used abusive language towards Air Kirk. Air Justice Fraser declared that within the strict legal definition “good character” might cover the applicant’s case, and his “reasonable sobriety” was unquestioned. The question of the union s justification in. refusing membership led to a broader interpretation of character, which included temperament, etc. The court could not hold that the union’s action was frivolous, and therefore its right to preference had not been sacrificed.