NO PROSECUTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 101, 22 January 1921, Page 6

NO PROSECUTION

WELLINGTON WHARF STOPPAGES. The Minister of Labour has been in correspondence with the secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union regarding a suggestion that employers of waterside labour ought to have been prosecuted for a stoppage of work on the Wellington wharves last year. A letter from the Minister to the federation, dated January 19, is as follows: — “Dear Sir,—ln further reply to your letters of November 8 and December 13 last, respecting the question of prosecuting employers and workers for alleged breaches of the AVar Regulations relating to seditious strikes , and lock-outs: Both your letters, and also a statement that appeared in the AVellington newspapers in December, infer that while workers have been prosecuted under tho War Regulations for taking part in certain strikes, the Government has refrained from similarly prosecuting employers for alleged lock-outs. "If you will refer to my letter of November 3 rejecting your request that the employers of wharf labour in Wellington be prosecuted for locking out their men, you will see that I stated as follows:—'The opinion of the Crown Law Office was that technically both the employers and the workers concerned might be held to be liable for a breach of the AVar Regulation*, but prosecution was not recommended in view of the fact that the Regulations in force were passed expressly for the public safety during the present war. You will remember that the proceedings against the Seamen’s Union were instituted in 1917, whilst the war was in progress. Under the circumstances, it has been decided to take no action against either the employers or the workers.’ “In regard to future cases, you are correct in your letter of the 13th ultimo in pointing out that the legislation of lastyear has revived certain provisions that were contained in the War Regulations, including those relating to seditious strikes and lock-outs, and this being so it will be necessary to inquire into any allegation of a breach thereof, inorder to see whether proceedings for any offence should lie taken. As in the past, no discrimination will be shown by the Government between the workers and the employers.—Yours faithfully, (Signed) AV. H. Ilerries, Minister of Labour.”