UNIONISTS ON TRIAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15343, 4 October 1917, Page 5

UNIONISTS ON TRIAL.

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS STRIKE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 4. The heating of the charge against T. \V. Young of having incited a seditious Strike was contm-at-d yesterday. After a number of witnesses for the prosecution had Veen heard, defendant, «aid he wished to call the Hon. G. W. Russell. Minister for Marine, and the Court adjourned for the to be communicated with. Mr .■Russell failed to appear, and his Worship said he could not compel him to appear, as he was free from judicial process, and, further, as a Minister of the Crown, he could refuse to give official information. ' Defendant, -iddref-sing the Court, said it would be contended that no strike existed, and if a breach of the War Regulations had Veen committed it was bv a seditious ioek-out. Until June last two men in a watch were worked, but later only one man was put on a w&tch. From June 1 to the time the trouble cocurred the Unior. was pestered with threats, 'and it was only by the exercise of tact that trouble was staved off. The Crown had failed to prove that the men discontinued their employment. As a practical seaman, he said no ship was 6sfe at sea with only one man on a watch. Before leaving for Auckland, just prior to the trouble, he had given Howell a document to communicate to the men on the ships, and it seemed that some of them had misunderstood it. The Union had never considered the question of two men in a watch. As to the evidence adduced by the Crown to the effect that he declined to refer the matters in dispute to the Covrt of Arbitration, he said what he declined to do was to go to the Court for an interpretation. What the Union intended to do was to take proceedings against the shipowners for a brriach' of agreement and so get an order of the Court. In placing matters before tlje Minister of Marine on March 29, he -incidentally remarked that some vessels were sailing with only one man on the deck watch, and some of the vessels were licensed to carry passengers. The Minister expressed surprise, and said he would cause irquiries to be made with a view to effecting a remedy. That was what he wanted to ask the Minister about if the Minister had come to Court.

Defendant called George Thomas Nation, a member cf the executive of the Union, who said the question of the number of men in a watch was never raised at a session of the executive council. In August there had been men who came out on-their own account, and the Union had not considered the matter since the trouble arose. Defendant then entered the witnessbox, and said he wished to repeat his evidence in Howell's case. Cross-examined by Mr Macassey, he eaid that while at Auckland he had not endeavoxired to get men on the coastal boats there to come out. YOUNG AND HOWELL SENT TO GAOL. AN APPEAL LIKELY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 4. W. T. Young, secretary, and Frederick Howell, assistant secretary of tne Seamen's Union, were sentcneed to jthree months' for inciting a seditious strike by the coastal seamen. Security for appeal was fixed. Magistrate McCarthy disagreed with Young's contention that it was a seditious lock-out, and not a strike. He said it was idle to contend {hat the crews came ou simultaneously without concerted action by the Union behind the strike. Young's action showed he approved and assisted the attitude of the Union. Young took part in inciting the strike ,although he succeeded in keeping in the background.