SEAMEN CHARGED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16907, 5 December 1922, Page 7

SEAMEN CHARGED.

♦- PARTIES TO A STRIKE. TEST CASE BROUGHT. THIRTY-SIX DEFENDANTS. (Per Press Association. ? WELLINGTON. December 5. Thirty-six seamen were charged before Air Page, S.M., to-day with being a party to a strike. Sixteen others have not 3-et been served with their summonses. The proceedings were taken by the Inspector of Awards under section 5 oi the Arbitration Amendment Act. the penalty asked in each ease being £lO. A case was heard against I). Manson. an able seaman of the Wainui, as the basis upon which all the cases would bo decided. Counsel for the Department, claimed that defendant had taken part in 0 strike as defined in section 3 if bis cessation of work was due to a combination or agreement with others with the object of enforcing terms. Whether lie or his employer was in the right or the wrong, the statute made combined action an offence. Each of the men. on giving notice, bad said that it was because of the decision of the meeting held at Wellington. It might be contended that the men had left work in a legal manner, as the men were entitled to give twenty-four hours’ notice. bun the fact that the employment was terminated in a legal manner had already been held to be not a sufli cient reason foi* bolding such an action as the present one not to be a strike if it was done in combination.