POLICE SEARCH SEAMEN'S UNION OFFICE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3195, 20 September 1917, Page 5

POLICE SEARCH SEAMEN'S UNION OFFICE

—: —:—* tBOOIiS AjS t D PAPERS OVERHAULED. _ On Tuesday afternoon a party consisting of Chief Detective Boddaiu, DetectiveSergeants Andrews and Cox, and Detective Carney, searched tho offices of tho (Federated Seamen's Union of Now Zealand in Queen's Chambers. On a warrant issued by a military authority under the iWar .B-eguktions Act, the police mado a thorough inspection of books and papers. QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. Reference to the search mado of the loffiee of tho Seamen's Union was mado .in the House of Kopresentatives yesterday. Mr. Webb said that he understood that 'tho'search was carried out .under the 'Authority of tho military, 'hat Colonel Cribbon issued the warrant for Iho search. iLator, the searohere went to tho homo of the secretary of the union, and eearch,cd it high an-d low. They I hen went to the president's home, to tho assistant eecretary's, and then to tho i.ouso ot ■Mr. Donovan, a member of tho executive. Ho wished to ask tho Prime Minister whether he considered this hind of work "was caloulated to creato that industrial quiet necessary if we wished to avert trouble. He wished to know .whether the same authorities had mado a com•plote search of tho headquarters of the ■Employers' Association. He could say •that two of tho shipowners concerned in the dispute agreed to the proposals 'of. the union, but when tho Shipowners Federation camo alone these two eom•panics immediately withdrew their proposals. Ho would ask the Pnmo Minister whether in future these searches would be mado by tho police, liiid r.ot under Colonel Gibbon's ciders, and whether he would see that Hie Employers'" Association office was searched. Tho Hon. A. L. Hcrdman replied to the question. "It is no doubt known to the honourable gentleman," he eui<i, "that a 6erious situation nas arisen in regard to small steamships. Through a 'combination of men engaged on these ships about twenty or twenty-live ships 'have been prevented from carrying or. the business of the country. I need. r.ot tell honourable members that this is a 'very serious matter indeed in lime o. war. As the result of a combination on the part of some persons in the com- . mnnity tho whole situation-has become .-ncute, and apparently a strike has hecn organised.' For tho purpose of obtaining information about the strike, it breams necessary for the police to search the premises of the union in order to obtain ividence, if such existed. lhoy also searched, the secretary's residence, and the residences of other members of tho executive. I do not know the result of. that Bearch. And if the police are of opinion that a search of the office of the Employers' Federation's office will enable them to get further evidenco there will_.be 1.0 ■hesitation on tho part of .the police in searching that ■ institution/