WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 319, 8 July 1912, Page 4

WORK AND WAGES.

INCITING TO STRIKE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. The Wellington Merchant Service Guild has been successful in its appeal from a decision of a magistrate at Wellington fining a union £IOO for an alleged offence of members of the union instigating an unlawful strike. The Arbitration Court, giving judgment to-day, stated that there was no evidence to justify the conclusion that the appellant union instigated the strike in question. The magistrate was justified in finding that some at least of the union officers were parties to an unlawful strike after the award in September last, and that the secretary of the union was aiding and abetting the strike. The court could not agree, however, with the view of the magistrate that the acts of the secretary were to be treated as done in performance of his duties to the union and were binding on the union. The promotion ol strikes cannot be regarded as the business of such union in the absence of express or implied authority from the union. The secretary's acts must be treated as being outside the sphere of his duties as secretary. The appeal was allowed with costs.

THE REEFTON STRIKE. Reefton, Last Night. The general meeting of the Miners' Union took place to-day. Nothing of general import is stated to have been done. The meeting exonerated two shift bosses from a charge of working for the company, cleared away local misunderstandings, and dealt with local matters. Matters are verv quiet, though the Keep It Dark and New Rig River mines are pushing on work. Several men are out prospecting. Country work is nearly finished, the end having been delayed by rain.