TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL'S EXHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10416, 21 March 1912, Page 3

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL'S EXHIBITION.

AN AFTERMATH.

SECRETARIES IN COURT

Aii echo of tl\e Trailrs and labour Council's exhibition was hoard at the Magistrate's Court this morning. before Mr 11. W. Dishop, S.M., when Frederick .Meyer, assistant secretary of the JOxhilntion Committee, sited the Trades iind Labour Council for £73 7s lid, out-of-pocket expenses in "connection with his duties, the items being as follow Office denning and assistance £l2 10s, general expenses £'2 l(is fld. meals for 17;") davs nt 5s per day £l3, los. stationery £1 7s f>d, cab hire i"2 13s, telegrams and stamps £3 14s 0(1. enrtnpto £1 16s, expenses of trip to Wellington £1 15s, making a total ol £73 7s lid.

Mr fl. T. Weston appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Hunter for the Trades and Labour Council. Mr Weston, in sketching the facts of the case, said that the nlnintiff was claiming petty cash disbursements made by him as assistant secretary for the Trades and Labour Council's Exhibition Committee. Vluintiff had practically controlled the organisation of the exhibition.

Frederick Meyer, plaintiff, said that he had been appointed on June 6, Iflll, as assistant-secretary of the Trades and Labour Council's exhibition. at a salary of £3 per week. He had been subject to the general committee and tn the general secretary, Mr Young. He had to obev the instructions of the various sub-commit-tees set up tn manage the affairs of the exhibition.' After witness's appointment Mr Young had been away from Christchurch for about seven weeks. Tn addition to his exhibition duties witness had to do certain business for the Council. The Magistrate asked in what way details as to his work was germane to plaintiff's claim, which large sum for meals for 175 days at os fl day. "Witness said thnfc lio was at tiie exhibition almost daily from seven in the morning till ten or 10.30 at night. The Magistrate stated that the fact that witness had been nai<l £3 a week implied that that would cover his expenses in connection with his work. He (the Magistrate) knew tho duties of an assistant-secretary, and it would have to bo proved to his satisfaction that there had been exceptional circumstances to justify plaintiff's largo claim. Witness said that he. had had to arrange for the cleaning of tho premises used bv the Council for the purpose of selling tickets and exhibiting the prises for the art union. Witness's wife and daughter had cleaned the premises, and in accordance with a mimitft on the minute-book of the Council, were entitled to receive 10s a week, but lie had been unable to pay them. His wife bail looked after the premises when witness was out on exhibition business. She liad on several occasions provided lunches for members of the Executive Com mittec.

Mr Weston stated that witness's claim included expenses for lemonade supplied to tho moving picture operator. The .Magistrate: But there must he some limit to Hint sort of thing.' Witness, continuing, stated that he had had to "tip" those who assisted in various ways in the exhibition. Tho Magistrate : T shouldn't call them "tips," T should say they were payments for services rendered. Tips are generally payments for services not rendered. With regard to the payment of £1 7s .5(1 for stationery, witness said that the stationery supplied by Red fern's at the Council's cost was sent to the Council Tfall. and witness often hud to buy extra stationery, as he coukl not get, nt. it when it was wanted. During the time the exhibition was open cabs had had to be used frequently for getting about quickly, and £2 13s was notan unreasonable demand for that expenditure. Witness was cross-examined by Mr Hunter at some length. He stated that the cleaning of the office had been left to Mr Whiting, Mr Young and himself. His wile and daughter had cleaned the office out at least- live times. The charge for meals included witness's meals, meals for his wifo and als.) for luncheons for members of tho executive, supplied at times at tho office.

Afr Hunter produced accounts from Redferns, stationers, to Mr Meyer, the principal items being fountain pens and gold nibs. Witness stated that he had bought the fountain pens for Mr Youiijr. Witness, continuing, denied that he bad assisted Air Blake, the advertising agent for the exhibition, when he had gone to Wellington. Mr Blake and witness were at present in partnership as advertising agents.* Tho "lips" he had mentioned included '•shouts'' for drinks. Witness did not know that without tho Government subsidy there would have been no profit from the exhibition, or that the balance sheet with the Government subsidy showed a profit of £575. Witness could not give any explanation for a shortage ot £17!) lis 7d from the sale of art union tickets. A. Paterson. secretary of the General Labourers' Union, and a member of the executive committee of the exhibition, stated that it had been suggested that the dispute should be settled, by arbitration hut that had been ruled out by the parties concerned. Alfred Edward Parker, a member ol the executive committee, corroborated Mover's evidence.