STRIKE AT FREEZING WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1683, 8 March 1917, Page 3

STRIKE AT FREEZING WORKS.

CHARGE OF SEDITION FOLLOAVS. Auckland, March 7. In the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Air Rawson, S.AI., Michael Francis Cusack, of Auckland, labourer, was charged that on February 15th he did publish a seditious utterance in a speech to certain men employed at the Horotiu freezing works, inciting them to strike, which utterance was seditions in that it had a tendency to interfere with the supply of frozen meat required for purposes in connection with the present war, contrary to the AVar Regulations Act.

Mr I’. S. K. Maeassey, Crown Prosecutor, of Wellington, proseeiileil. The ense is (lie first of the kind, and lasted all day. Mr Maeassey said the (Jovernment was absolutely determined not to allow men to cause strikes to delay the shipment of frozen meal and other necessaries for the troops at the front. Cusack had heen employed at Southdown, and went to Iloro(in on February 14lh. There was no grievance on the part of the men (here, and no complaint had keen made to the management, hut there was a strike at West held and Southdown. Defendant entered (he works without, the permission of the manager, and addressed the chamber hands, with (he result that they went on strike. At the time nearly !,5()0.0(i()!h of frozen meat was awaiting shipment for the troops. In the (danse under which the proceedings were taken, “seditions utterance" wo.- defined as “seditions intention or having a seditions tendency." The penally was a line of 1 00, or twelve months' imprisonment. Cnsaek went to tin 1 work's on February Itlh, after whieh Mr Hoherlson, the manager, was informed (hat the men had held a. meeting, and were going on strike in sympathy with the men on strike in Auckland; hut they wen; in the dark as to what they wanted. They agreed to work till the morning. On February Kit It nineteen men went out, 1.00 others being a fleeted. Evidence was given for the prosecution on the lines of Mr Aiamtssey’s address. The men were out for eight days.

The defence was a denial llm! Cnsaek had in any way induced or incited tin* men to strike. Decision was reserved (ill Saturday, hail being allowed.