UNION DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 18764, 20 December 1935, Page 8

UNION DISPUTE

ACTION BY SEAMAN. SEQUEL TO EARLIER CASE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Having succeeded in an action against the Wellington Seamen’s Union last July for wrongfully expelling h'im from membership, John James Porteiv a seaman, applied in the Supreme Court before the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, for leave to issue a writ of -attachment for contempt against Thomas Martin, described by Porter as the defendant union's Christchurch agent. Porter seeks leave to issue a writ on the grounds that Martin allegedly refused to permit him to peruse the minutes of stop-work meetings in Christchurch, refused to accept his union dues, and refused to allow him to be present at stop-worlc meetings. Mr L. K. Wilson who appeared for Porter, said certain affidavits bad been filed yesterday by defendant, There had been no time to communicate with Porter, and as it was thought .other material should -be put before ' the Court, he asked for the case to be adjourned until next. year. Mr E. P. Hay, for defendant union, said he was quite content to leave it to’the'Court to say whether it was a proper -case to stand over. It was unfortunate, -considering the present state of the maritime industry, that the matter should be held over. His -Honour: There is one matter that stands out from the affidavits—that Martin may not be an officer of this union at all. Apparently the suggestion on the affidavits Is that Martin is not an officer of the defendant union, but of the Federated Union. Then is another question—whether, under the rules, this can be said to be a meeting of the union at Lyttelton at all.

The case was adjourned until January 30. '