INTERESTING TO UNIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 6

INTERESTING TO UNIONS.

' ' ' . AN OTAGO CASE. (Wy Telegraph.—Press Aaaociatloo.) □unetiin, August-13. - A case of interest, to 'labour unions and their officers' was • he.ard at.jKaitangata yes-, terda'y before Mr. Keririck,'£>.M;, wlidn Alfred Weston, a miner, sued the Otago Coal Miners'-Union- for £17 18s. -Bd., .being ■ the balance owing on the sum of £30 18s. Bd. which ho claimed for services 1 rendered as a member of the: executive council, president of the union, and..miners', representative at conferences, etc. , It appears that the practice had b»'en to pay 1 the president £10 a "year, each member of the executive committee £5, and to allow miners' representatives attending the Arbitration Court or outside meetings of the conference 10s. per day wages,. and 10s. por

day expenses, in addition to travelling fares. In the course of the evidence' it' appeared .that' in Jiily,'< 1907, the .union: 'had funds' m the bank .and cash- in .hand 'amounting' to somewhere about £450, .that there had been a special levy/in 1908 which was estimated ■.to have produced about £150, all of which ' monoywas gone, whilst debts and liabilities : to the amount of £300 or £400 were owing ; .'.ln giving judgment tho Magistrate said 'that in January or February,. 1908, the president knew there was trouble' about tooneys due from branches, and which were" reported not to have been received by the head office. He drew up a report on the matter,