AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1925, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ACSTBALIAS AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. UNION FINES. MELBOURNE, June 27. A case bearing importantly on tho question whether unions are entitled to indict penalties on members for alleged disobedience of the rules is proceeding, E. Phillips seeking to recover £IOOO sterling damages from tho Workers Federation of Australia and Wharf Labourers Union of which he is a member, on the ground that the Iwo bodies mentioned wrongfully refused to recognise him as a member whereby be lost his employment. Phillips’ case is that in February of last year he was helping to unload sugar from a steamer when the foreman called him down the hatch to fill up slings, lie obeyed tlic order and the unions’ vigilance officer thereupon came along and called down the hold and said : ‘■Stop that game, you are putting too much on the slings.” Phillips was subsequently fined 10s by the I uion for an alleged breach cI tlie rules, lie denied liability and was consequently set aside as unfinnneial. He could get no work except small jobs and was iin- : able to join any other union without a financial clearance.

AUSTRALIA WOOL POOL. MELBOURNE, June 27

Although no finality has been reached in regard to the acceptance or otherwise, of Sir John Higgins’ wool stabilization Council, alter consultation with the Australia Wool Council anti the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers, decided to submit the scheme to the various Associations affiliated to the Grinder Council before making a filial decision. Special consideration is asked for the questions of dangers entailed through Government control, the uncertainity that may arise through the operation ol the scheme ami the possibility of the serious disturbance between financial institutions and their pastoral clients for its acceptance.