LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13979, 14 August 1909, Page 6

LABOUR.

AX INTERESTING CASE.

Per Press Association,

DUNEDIX, August 13. A case of interest to labour unions and their officers was heard at Kaitangata yesterday, before Mr Jvciiriek, S.M., when Alfred Weston sued the Otago Coal Miners'.Union for £l7 18s Bd, being the balance owing on £39 18s Bd, which he claimed for services rendered as a member of the Executive Council, president of the Union, and miners' representative at conferences, etc.

It appeared that the practice hal been to pay the president £lO a year, each member of the executive committee £5, and to allow miners' representatives attending the Arbitration Court or outside meeting or conference 10s per day wages, and 10s per ''ay expenses, in addition to travelling fares.

In the course of evidence it- appeared that in July, 1907, the Unioii had funds in the bank and cash 111 hand amounting to somewhere about i--400, that there had bec-n a special levy in 1908, which was estimated to nave produced about £l5O,- all of which money was gone, while debts anc! liabilities to the amount of £3OO or £4OO were owing.

In giving judgment, the Magistrate said that in .January or February. 1908, the president knew that there was trouble about moneys due from branches, and which were reported not to have been received 'by the head office. He drew up a report on the matter, but for five meetings did 1 ot submit it to members. In that respect His Worship thought that the president failed in his duty. Lb also appeared that the president had on six. occasions broken the rules relating to payments being made by cheque. No legal claim had been established by the president or executive members to the payments canned as officers. As to the claim for wa!*?s, expenses and fares. His AVorship .'leld that they were incurred without proper authorisation, as the annual meeti.ig had not been held at the proper t'j. e! Judgment was given for iofeadant.