TROUBLE ON THE WHARF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1911, Page 8

TROUBLE ON THE WHARF.

UNION OFFICIAL STRUCK. LABOUR FOREMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. An action arising out' of a recent, occurrence on the wharf was heard by Mr. W. G. Riddell.. S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when John Currie, labour foreman for the Union Steam Ship Company was charged with assaulting George Gray Karland, assistant secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union, on the list inst. . Mr. W. H. D. Bell appeared for Failand, and Mr. A. L. Herdman for defendant. The story told by Farland was that on the 11th inst. he saw a sling coming out of the hold of the Hauroto which .he thought menaced a number of men. .-engaged in working cargo on the vessel. He called out "Hold on," and stopped the descent of the sling. M'Leod, assistant labour foreman for the company, remonstrated with him for interfering, and just then Curri© cam© up, .and, noticing that the men were using hooks in handling bags of cement, ordered them to put the hooks away. Ho (Farland) considered it his duty to -look after the interests of the men, and out to them : "You foolish men. 'You've got .a concession; don't throw your hooks down." Currie turned on j him and said : "For two pins I'd hit i you in the jaw." Witness retorted : '"Oh, I've heard your yap before, Jack."* Currie then hit him on the cheek, grabbed him, and ran him through the shed, towards the street. Several men rushed up and pulled Currie away. Witness did not show fight, or relaliate in any way. Cross-examined by Mr. Herdman, -Farland stated ' that he hnew Currie was in charge, and was responsible for the men. He considered that any humanitarian would have acted as he had done in arresting the descent of 'the sling. He had interfered when Currie had ordered the disuse of the hooks, as he considered he was acting within his rights as a representative of the men. His duties took him to thb wharves a great deal. He had had a few words with Currie on previous occasions. Charles Anderson, wharf labourer, deposed to seeing the blows struck. He did not know what led up to the assault. THE DEFENCE. Mr. Herdman contended that it was a case of a man goins* down on the wharf, and without justification interfering with a man in a responsible position. He called the defendant, who stated that ' when he ordered the men to put their hooks away Farland rushed in and said he was not frightened of anyone, and was going to see the men get fair treatment.' He (Currie) told Failand to go away, but Farland was very excited and was waving his hands about, so he took hold of him and ran hint through the shed. Farland was right among the men when he laid hands on him, and he was interfering ! with the work. Mr. Bell : Have you not had several fights on the wharf, and are you not known as "Hot Stuff Jack?" Witness : No ; I have never had a fight on the wharf in my life. I used to be called "Hot Stun" Jack," but it was on account of my surname — Currie. Captain Stott, Marine Superintendent for the Union Company, stated that Farland was interfering" with the men when Currie ran him oft" the wharf. He (Captain Stott) had given instructions that hooks were not to be used when working the cement. He reported Farland to the wharfinger, who told Farland he must not interfere. A. A. Munro, wharfinger, deposed to warning Farland. SHe had had trouble with him on a previous occasion. Thos.,W. Boon, tally clerk, stated that he had seen Farland interfere with workmen on thei wharf on numerous occasions. Hugh A. M'Leod, assistant labour foreman, said he was in charge when Farland stopped the sling coming down, and no on 9 was in danger when Farland stopped the descent of the sling. He did not see Currie strike a. blow, but him run Farland through the shed. INFORMATION DISMISSED. His Worship considered that no person had a right to interfere as Farland had done. The men had their remedy in ..the Arbitration Court. He was of the that an assault had taken place, but it was entirely due to provocation •on the part of Farland, who, if he had acted constitutionally, would have avoided all trouble. The information was dismissed. No costs were allowed.