VICTIMISATION ALLEGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 9

VICTIMISATION ALLEGED

UNION AS DEFENDANT. WATERSIDE WORKERS’ CLAIM. [ Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, Alay 2. A claim for damages by a waterside worker, who alleged victimisation against his union, was further heard by Air Justice Smith in the. Supreme Court to-day. Plaintiff. Plaintiff was Thomas Moylan, commonly known as Paddy Aliles (Air Dickson), a member of the Waterside Workers’ Union, and he took action against the Union and its “walking delegate” Robert Irvine (Air O’Regan, of Wellington, and Air Sullivan) on the ground that defendants had entered into a conspiracy to prevent him from earning his livelihood on tho waterfront He claimed damages at the rate of £6 a week from Alarch 23, 1929, to date—£3ooo damages for loss suffered and £2OO general damages. Air Dickson continued his cross examination of defendant. Robert Irvine, who said that Aliles had refused to

come before the officers of the union and tell his story. If Aliles had done so it would have made tho task of the executive in getting men to work with Aliles, much easier. Witness commented that he had told the-men that they were wrong in taking up the attitude of not working with Aliles - . His Honour: Then I take it you disassociate yourself from that attitude of the men? Witness: Absolutely. Right throughout the piece. His Honour: Did you know that if Aliles were employed the whole body of men would refuse to work with him? • —Oh, no. Only individual men, witness said. We shared the popular opinion about Aliles’ action in sending money by letter, but he accepted the statement that his wife wrote it.

The president of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Charles Stephen Alorris, was the next witness. “As president of the union I have always stood for order and discipline and the growth of the port,” declared witness. If Aliles had come to the executive, witness believed that ho could have eased tho position for him. Airs Aliles saw him at his house once and Aliles twice. Airs Aliles wrote a letter of apology under his direction and accepted responsibility for the original letter that caused the trouble.

After hearing further evidence flu judge reserved his decision.