A SEAMAN’S CLAIM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19878, 20 February 1920, Page 6

A SEAMAN’S CLAIM.

CASE AGAINST UNION

ALLEGED VICTIMISATION

[Per Press Association.]

WELLINGTON. February, 19

A case is being heard in the Supreme Court in which a seaman named .James MacGregor claims £I(XX) damages from tho Wellington Seamen's Union on tho ground that tho plaintiff was wrongfully expelled from tho union, which had since prevented him from following his usual occupation.

According to counsel, some time in December the plaintiff was on the steamer John, on which there was also a young fellow 7 named Simpson. Complaint was made that the last-named was not a member of the union and plaintiff offered to pay his subscription, but the offer was icfnsod. La tor the plaintiff complained to tho assistantsecretary of the union regarding tho matter, and the assistant-secretary demanded from .MacGregor the amount of the latter’s subscriptions then duo. MacGregor went to the union office, paid the money, and said that the assistant-secretary should go about his business in a more sober manner. He did not mean in any sense that the assistant-secretary was drunk. The next day tho executive of the union met and MacGregor was told to apologise to the acting-secretary. He declined, and was expelled from tho union, but denied receiving any notice of expulsion. It was alleged that at the instance of the union he was prevented from shipping on various coastal steamers under a threat that if ho wore employed the crews would come out. The hearing of the case had not concluded when the Court rose for the dav.