WATERSIDER AND UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16819, 23 August 1922, Page 4

WATERSIDER AND UNION.

DEBARRED FROM EMPLOYMENT. (Special to the “Star. .) GREYMOUTH, August 22. Alleging that he had been prevented from obtaining employment on the Greyxnouth wharf, a watersider named Joseph Michael Clarke, a member of the uniion, claimed £45 damages at the Magistrate’s Court to-day from Henry Kirk (secretary to the union) nml the Greymouth Waterside Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers. 31 r W'. 3;teldriim, S.M., presided. 3lr J. W. Hannan appeared for Clarke, and defendants were represented by Mr W. J. Joyce. There was a good attendance of waterside workers in the Court, the ease evidently arousing much interest. Plaintiff, in his statement of claim, alleged that on or about August 7, 1!)2£ defendant handed to James Bnslane. wharf foreman at Greymouth for the Railway Department, a note dated August 7, to the effect that plaintiff was in arrears with the defendant union to the extent of of 7s 9d. and at the same time told James Brislano not to ornplov plaintiff, as ho was unfinancial with the union. Consequently, it was alleged, Brisbane was obliged, in order to avoid industrial strife, to refuse to employ plaintiff, although he was perfectly satisfied with plaintiff’s work. Plaintiff accordingly was refused work by the Railway Department. It was further alleged that owing to acts of defendants, Kirk and the union, plaintiff had since August 7 been unemployed, and had been unable to earn anything. He therefore claimed £5 as special damages ior loss of work between August 8 and 13. and £4O as general damages. After hearing the evidence of the parties, which lasted throughout the day. the Magistrate held that defendant had not suffered loss, and gave judgment for £3 7s 3d wages.