SEAMAN AND UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8342, 31 January 1913, Page 3

SEAMAN AND UNION

ALLEGED REFUSAL OP MEMBER-

SHIP.

An important case bearing upon the employment of unionists is to Ire heard at the Magistrate’s Court on Friday, February 7th. The plaintiff is Julius Hansen, seaman, and the defendants are AVilliam Thomas Young, secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union of Australasia, and the Seamen’s Union. Hansen states in his claim that on December 11th last he applied in writing to Young to become a member of the union, and forwarded with his application the sum of 16s entrance fee. The defendants, or one of them, plaintiff alleges, unlawfully neglected and refused to permit him to join the union, with the intention of preventing him from obtaining work. As an agreement between the union and the various shipping companies in New Zealand provided that the shipping employers would give preference of employment to members of the Seamen’s Union, plaintiff says he has, by the action of defendants, been prevented from obtaining employment as a seaman, and had thereby suffered damage. Plaintiff therefore claims £l9 as damages. Mr A. W. Blair is acting for the plaintiff and Mr P. J. O’Regan for the union. The case was to nave been heard yesterday, but had to be adjourned.