INTIMIDATION ALLEGED.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1922, Page 5

INTIMIDATION ALLEGED.

UNION SECRETARY CHARGED. By Te'egtaph.—Press Association. Auckland, Nov. 3. In his absence at Wellington, Thomas Frederick Anderson, secretary of the Auckland branch of the Seamen’s Union, was charged at the Police Court with intimidation in trying to compel Kiel u Betridge to abstain from travelling on the steamer Arahura from Auckland to Gisborne. It was stated that six men had been engaged to serve on the Baden Powell at wages said to be less than the union rates, and that they intended to proceed to Gisborne by the Arahura. This resulted in the Arahura firemen leaving the vessel. It was alleged that the defendant stated to the Union Company officials that the men were acting under his instructions and that the Baden Powell men would have to leave the Arahura or she would not sail. Captain Dryden told Anderson he would get the men ashore, and Anderson spoke to some of them, saying: “Be white men and leave the Arahura or there will be trouble.” The men went off because they thought they would be put off. Captain Stephens, master of the Huanui, stated in evidence that the monthly wages to be paid to the crew of the Baden Powell were £lB for able seamen and £2O for firemen. These wages were a'bove the union rates, but they were not to receive overtime. Men sailing out of Auckland in the same class of trade received less pay.