LABOUR’S EXPORTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1517, 2 March 1916, Page 4

LABOUR’S EXPORTS.

JUDGE'S PLAIN SPEAKING

Some plain speaking was indulged in by Mr Justice Higgins at the Arbitration Court in Melbourne last week, when the Waterside Workers’ Federation was called upon to show cause why penalties should not be imposed in consequence of the refusal of members to load flour and butter at Melbourne lor export. The Paloona, bound for Wellington, was one of the boats affected, and she sailed for New Zealand without the flour. Affidavits were read asserting that, officially, the union knew nothing of the trouble, and repudiated, absolutely, the action of the men. Under these circumstances, the summons was withdrawn. Before agreeing to that course, however, Mr Justice Higgins said: ‘‘lt is a fatuous absurdity that a few men at some port in Australia should dictate what Is or is not to be exported. 1 can only say that if I find this course of action repeated ; if I find members of the union breaking their contracts ; if I find that the union does not exert sufficient control over its members ; I shall regard it as my duty to reopen some of the questions settled by my award, and order. For instance, I have fixed the minimum rates, which have been an immense relief to members of the union. These minimum rates are binding on the employers, but I shall decline to continue to give the protection of the Court to a union whose members are trying to make a law for the public by breaking their own contracts. I state this for the guidance of unions if similar cases should occur.”