ADMISSION TO UNION

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1934, Page 7

ADMISSION TO UNION

SHIP’S BUTCHER BRINGS ACTION.

IMPORTANT POINT INVOLVED.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night

Eric Rowland Gregory, ship’s butcher, brought an action in the Supreme Court to-day against the Federated Cooks and Stewards’ Union for alleged wrongful expulsion, a writ of mandamus to compel the union to readmit him and £lOO damages.

The proceedings showed Gregory to have missed the ship through attending a cinema and the usher not calling him in time. The missing of a ship was a serious offence, and the union after an inquiry considered Gregory missed it through his own fault. Gregory had been a member of the union on and off for a number of years. It was explained that there was nothing to prevent Gregory from applying for readmission, and there was nothing against him personally. It was stated that the practice of the union was to readmit an expelled member if he brought evidence in writing from a shipping company that it was willing to give him employment. His Honour said it seemed plain that if the matter went any further a very important point would arise in regard io the issue of a writ of mandamus and, that being so, it was a question whether it would not be advisable to remove the' case to the Court of Appeal. Counsel for both sides agreed and the necessary order was made.