AN ALLEGED STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1918, Page 2

AN ALLEGED STRIKE.

MAGISTRATE'S .I>ECJ'S lONPress Association.—Copyright. Daimcvirkfi, May 2-5. Nino men, Maori shear.M-s and shed hands, who allegedly struck at TmiUnc Station in October last, wero charged before Mr. M'O.rthy, S-M. with participating in an unlawful strike Mr. Hcnvsk, one of the owners of tho 'fautane Station, dismissed a shearer for rough treatment of a iamb, and the rest of the gang suspended work in sympathy, but later in the afternoon offered to resume work next morning. 'Mr. Herrick gave them ten minutes to return to work or else they could not resume. They did not accede to this, hut tendered themselves for work next morning, and were not allowed to start The Magistrate held that Mr. Herrick was justified in dismissing the Maori for ill-treatment of a sheep and that the shearers, in ceasing work, committed an unlawful act which gave Mr. Herrick the right to dismiss them. The ceaj-'ng of work was the inception of a strike,, an.i if zte cessation had Veen persisted' in by the men there would have been a strike- As the shearers offered to return to work within a short time of ceasing work, it was unreasonable to hold that the men took part in a strike within the meaning of the Act. Judgment was given for defendants, but no costs were allowed, the Magistrate considering the Labor Dc-gartment was right in Bringing the ease before the Court.