NO WORK—NO FOOD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 89, 15 December 1913, Page 6

NO WORK— NO FOOD.

MAN WKO KEPT AWAY FROM THE WHARVES.

(New Zealand Times.)

An illustration of how the strike is affecting the domestic life of the' strikers was given at the Wellington

Magistrate's Court before Air W. G. Riddcll, S.M.j on Friday, when May Grant proceeded against her husband, William Grant, for disobedience of a maintenance order which had been allowed to become £5 5s in arrear. Mr J. J. McGrath appeared for the complainant, and MrJ. S. Barton defended.

The defendant, in evidence, stated that he was a wharf laborer, and had injured his foot previous to the strike. He was confined in the hospital until the day after the union went out.

Mr McGrath: "How have you been living since the strike?" '' Witness: "I have-had no money."

McGrath: "Well, how did you

liva?" Witness: "I have been living with

my mother." Mr GcGrath: "Has it v ever struck you how your wife and child have been getting on?" Witness: "Yes." Mr McGrath: "What have you been doing since October 21st?" Witness: "Nothing. The strike has been on."

The magistrate: "It is no excuse to say that there has been a strike. If you are not willing to go back to work you must accept the consequences."

Witness: "I was ill at the time."

Mr McGrath: "When you came out of the hospital the work was waiting for you and vou wouldn't take it."

Witness : "No. I didn't go down."

Mr McGrath: "Did you tell your wife that as long as thfe strike was on you wouldn't go back to work?"

Witness: "No."

The magistrate: "Here is a strong, healthy individual, and he should go to work."

Mr Barton, in addressing the magistrate, said.that there were extenuating circumstances. "There is no sympathy," he. said, "for the men who have been tbld by their leaders that at any day they will be able to go back to work. They regard their action in this strike ■'with"the fervour of religious convictions." ;- f Mr MeGi-ath: "There is nothing in his;favor." If his wife had not been able to live with her married sister she Avotild have> starved." ■'• '■ '

His Worship adjourned the case un>tH«TDecember< »22ndj« w*the : < condition that the defendant should reduce arrearsfin that time jßy at least *£T.