BRIBERY OF WORKMEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 66285, 2 October 1925, Page 6

BRIBERY OF WORKMEN.

COMMISSION ON EARNINGS

HALF-CROWN IN POUND

Wholesale bribery to obtain work was alleged in some astonishing statements in Bow County Court, says a London paper. James W. Price and William T. G. Goodman, riveters, sued Thomas Sheppard, of.Plaistow, to recover £0 17/-, which they had paid to him at the rate of 2/G in the pound on their earnings to obtain work at the docks. Price, in evidence, stated that every day for six months he was outside the gates of Millwall Dock trying to obtain work on the repairing of the steamship Shropshire. Riveters lined up in a queue, and times without number the whole of that queue would be taken on with the exception of himself and Goodman. He questioned the head fireman, and, on his advice, interviewed Sheppard, who intimated that if he liked to do as others did, and pay him 2/G for every £1 earned, he could have work. As he had a wife and eight children and Christmas was approaching, he agreed to do this, and was given employment. Sheppard came round on Saturday mornings and collected the halfcrowns from 80 or 90 men, continued Price. After Christmas witness informed Sheppard that he would pay him no more, and Sheppard replied: ‘‘Well, you know the consequences; you will be sacked.” From that time onward witness had failed to obtain work at the yard', although he tried for months. Men were being sought throughout Poplar for the work, and were even obtained from as far away as Southampton. Price added that Sheppard controlled the whole of the London river employment down to Southend, owing to his influence in the Foreman’s Association, which had their headquarters at Southend. At times Sheppard wanted a little more money, and would tell Price to book on for three days’ work in a ship which he never went' near. Arthur Griffiths, a member of the Boilermakers’ Union, related that he was on a committee of inquiry when Sheppard admitted that £44 had been collected in one week on his behalf. Sheppard had claimed that the money was used to level up wages. Counsel for defendant submitted that the money, if paid in bribes, was not recoverable. It was monstrous, he suggested, for these men to pay these bribes for months and then come to the Court and ask for them back and pose as saints. Sheppard gave evidence denying that he had power to engage or dismiss anybody, and asserted that he had never heard of bribery at the docks. Judge Snagge, who was informed that Sheppard had been fined £5 by his trade union for accepting the payments, gave judgment in favour of Price and Goodman for the full amount claimed.