ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 21 November 1924, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

YESTERDAYS SITTING. The Court of • Arbitration resumed and concluded its 'sittings, in Ch'ristchurch yesterday. Mr Justico Frazer presided, and with him were Messrs W. Scott (employers' representative) and H. Hunter (workers' representative). " \ . Variation of Drivers' Award. Mr E. Parlane appeared on behalf of the Drivers' Union in connexion with an application for a variation of the Dominion award. Mr W. Cecil Prime appeared on behalf of the employers. The Union "asked that'the rate referred to in the following clause _ should be increased from'ls to' 2s ed'per ton: —

-Lilts—The 'following' special condition I shall apply in respoct of. the Canterbury industrial district only: Where it is required that sacks of flour, etc.) should be conveyed from a cart a loft in .establishments where power is installed; and it is reasonably practicable 'to do so,.' a. powers lift.shall be provided for the purpose. Where it is not reasonably practicable to uso a power lift, then suitable-..hand tackle shall, be provided for the purpose. Whero neither is reasonably practicable then Is per ton shall be paid to the driver for canyi«i,; same from the cart to the loft. Failing above delivery shall be completed on the ground level. The Court reserves power to fix a different rate on the application of the Union." ' . . , Mr Parlane said that' the carrying of heavy loads of flour up stairs that were nearly always unsuitable resulted In ruptures, heart strain and other injuries. While the rate for this work remained low. the bakers, he contended, would not install the necessary 4iiting appliances. The ..trouble applied almost exclusively to Chnstchurch. Henry Glover gave evidence as to the method of delivering flour-, into lofts in Christchurch. The work, he said, was of a very straining; nature. The work was not fit work for a. man to do. ; Mr Prime said the doing away with flour carrying would not achieve the end desired by the Union, for neither the millers nor carrying companies undertook to deliver flour beyond the ground level. The bakers made their own arrangements with |.be carters, and the bakers could not be bound by. the, award. . His Honour suggested'that it might be' better to' provide that, the carter should deliver only to the ground floor, though,' e7eri then the bake* could still make his own arrangements with the. carters. The Court w&b quite sympathetic to the claim of the Union; the difficulty ■ wa» to find an effective way-of. doing'what was wanted. The Court could not issue a general prohibition. It could prohibit the employers of the drivers from compelling-their employees to carry the flour up stairs, but that would not prevent the bakers ; from making their own arrangements with . the drivers. Decision was reserved, his .Honour stating that the Court would do its beat to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.

: Female Tailoring Apprentices. Mr F. R. Cooke referred to the omission from the recommendations of -the Conciliation Council of any reference to female apprentices > in. the dispute affecting the tailoring trade. It was desired that the clause in the; old Award providing "for "flßch ap-. prentices should : be included in tbo new"Xr'w. Cecil Prime, for the emptor** B . said that the employers were His Honour, etated that the clause w*u« be inserted.. __— .'