ACTION WON

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1932, Page 5

ACTION WON

ADMISSION TO UNION

OBJECTION BY WAT/.RSIDERS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, June 1

“That the plaintiffs were entitled to admission as members of the VVo.ingtoti Waterside Worker i’ Union,” was the decision reach'd by Mr Justice Ostler in his reserved judgment delivered at the Supreme Court upon actions brought rccent.i'y by Thomas Antonio Wells and George Hardgreaves. The plaintiff in eadh case had been refused admbrion to the Union, as he claimed, wrongfully, and each made a claim for a writ of mandamus to compel the Union to admit him as a member) and also for £SO damages. John Oldham Johnson, the Secretary, was joined with the Union as defendant.

“In my opinion." stated His Honour, "tho defendants had no legal justification for excluding the plaintifu from membership of the Lnion.’ Tn addition to a writ of maiichmus, His ’Honour gave jndgm on for fin* plaintiff in each case for £25 as damages, with co-.'s, witnesses' expenses, a"d (L - bursein'-.its. His Honour referred to IJ'.ie use nt !1 "1713 Stamp" which, h‘‘ said. ""as evidently (Lvigned to give preference in r : ght of entry to the Union to the strikers of 1913. If so. it was ait illegal restraint. The !”' v H'owed n ref,"ir’ 1 "O to Unionist", but did not allow fit hu* a monopoly, <‘ v ‘‘ n pr VIII" 1 -Sh i 1 ‘US. "To Un'p i's defence was t'at Up* ffiiif>-| js a' The Jud"' sahi tb«' laiiml. on the grounds 1h t Hie Mui't which, it w-s alleged, had bee-' imposed, had in any case been exciy«M.