POWERS OF UNIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9791, 15 October 1917, Page 5

POWERS OF UNIONS

AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. Judgment in a case of some importance to industrial unions was delivered by Mr Justice Chapman in the Supremo Court on Saturday.- The case was one brought upon an originating summons by the Ohiuomuri Mines and Batteries Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers against the Registrar of Industrial Unions. The plaintiff union had sought to register _ a complete amendment of its rules, including two rules that provided for the payment of benefits to members who were injured, by accident, or to the relatives of members who were killed by accident. The registrar had refused to accept these rules, on the ground that they wore outside the powers conferred by the Industrial Conciliation Act, 1908, and the plaintiff union proceeded by origiDating summons to obtain the ruling of the Supreme Court. The question was argued by Sir P. J. O’Regan (for the union) and Mr P. S. K. Macassoy, of the Crown Law Office (for the registrar). His Honour gave judgment for the registrar, and stated that in tho absence of express provision in the Act, the court must look upon the proposed rules as beyond the scope of tho statute.