THE CLOSED DOOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10755, 29 April 1913, Page 3

THE CLOSED DOOR.

Seaman sues a union. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 29

Judgment Avas given by Dr M'Arthur, S.M., to-day in a case in which Julius Hansen, a seaman, sued W. T. Young, secretary of tho Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia, niyl the Union, claiming £l9 damages. Hansen alleged that the defendants had, with the intention of preventing him from obtaining work, unlawfully refused to allow him to join the Union. The .Magistrate said that tho plaintiff was nine years ago a member of tho Seamen's Union and afterwards joined the Wharf Labourers' Union. Later on ho desired to join tho Seamen's Union, which was then unregistered, and with his informal application ho forwarded 16s to Young, also stating his willingness to call aond sign any required declaration. His Worship, after reviewing tho law points raised, said it seemed conclusive that no Court could entertain any legal proceedings instituted with tho object of enforcing or recovering damages for non-admission of a new member into a trades union. That might be contrary to tho spirit of domocracy of tho present day, but it appeared to him to bo the plain reading of and the conclusion to bo drawn from the Act. The gist of the argument of counsel for the plaintiff was that plaintiff was written off the books, and that therefore all he was liable for in order to rejoin the Union was at the utmost to pay one year's arrears in order to rejoin as a new member. "This," said the Magistrate. " T would be willing to admit had the Society or the Union remained registered ; but this was not so. I hold that there is no power for this Court to enforce or uphold the claim of plaintiff, therefore judgment must be for the defendants."