WAS IT A STRIKE?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 6

WAS IT A STRIKE?

THE WANAKA TROUBLE. ARBITRATION COURT TO DECIDE. The cases in connection with the alleged strike of the wharf labourers engaged to unload the Wanaka at Wellington last February occupied a few minutes in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M.; who had adjourned the cases on the previous evening after several hours' hearing, was again on the- bench. George G. Farland, assistant; secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union, stood charged with aiding and abetting a strike, and 49 others with participating in a strike. Mr. C. E. Aldridge prosecuted for the Labour Department; Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared for all the defendants, except one, Dowdall, who defended himself. The magistrate said the case against Dowdall would be adjourned until next Monday. With regard to the other cases, the parties had agreed that the magistrate should state a case for the Arbitration Court on the lines drafted by him. All the cases would stand adjourned until tho judgment of the Arbitration Court had been received.' The parties- had agreed to the statement that he made in court on the previous evening as' to the facts of the case, with one or two slight verbal 'alterations. Mr. O'Regan said he was perfectly satisfied with this course. Mr. Dowdall asked if ho could get subpoenas for his witnesses to attend next Monday. Fifteen minute's would settle it so. far as he was concerned.

The magistrate said the witnesses would not be required. The fixing of Monday was & matter of foTm ; as all the case's would stand_ over until the decision of the Arbitration Court had been received.