COMPULSORY UNIONISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 192, 12 February 1912, Page 2

COMPULSORY UNIONISM.

AN EXTRAORDMARY POSITION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., Saturday. ' An important judgment relating to compulsory unionism was delivered by Mr. A. D. Thomson, S.M., to-day in a case the Inspector of Factories v. Borroughs and Kelleher, for failing to become members of the Cooks' and Waiters' Union. When the award came into operation on October 2 both were employed in local hotels and continued to be so employed without joining the union, although the award declared that every non-unionist employed in an establishment covered by the award shall within seven days become and remain a member of a union. Counsel had pointed out that this amounted to compulsory unionism and contended that authority to make such a decision was not given by the Industrial Act provided that no award of the Arbitration Court was liable to be challenged or appealed against, quashed or called in question by any Court of judicature on any account whatsoever. On this latter ground his Worship held he must take the award as it stood. The men, however, had contended that they were only waiting till their places could be filled by others. The union secretary admitted that the union had no one available to fill their places. Pour months, however, was too long to allow for such defence. The defendants were fined 20s each and costs.