LABOUR TROUBLES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 116, 22 June 1914, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

A COMPLICATED CASE. Press Association. GEEYMOUTH, June 22. At the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Sim, John Clarke, a nightwatchn?an, charged with the theft of meat from a butcher's shop at Reef ton, was iir.ed £3O, in default six months' imprisonment. This was the only criminal case, and an application for probation was refused.

The hearing of th& claim for £2OO damages, by William James Coetzee, against tthe secretary and president of the Waterside Workers' Union, is proceeding. Plaintiff alleges that the new union conspired to prevent him from working on the wharf whilst a member of the union; that meetings of the executive and a special meeting of the union were held to investigate unsubstantiated charges. Plaintiff alleges that he was accused of refusing to work with another member in loading timber, also that he carried the new xmion's business to the old union. The statement of defence was an absolute denial that such meetings were ever held, or that Coetzee was suspended from the new union, or that the shipping foremen were advised not to employ the plaintiff to, save industrial strife.