THRESHING MILL AWARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 9 December 1930, Page 15

THRESHING MILL AWARD.

ARBITRATION COURT'S

DECISION.

"TIN MILL" OWNERS ADDED

■fcinal judgment has been given by the Arbitration Court in wliat has become kno\\n as the c 1 tin mills'' ease, in which •i number of owners of small threshing mills applied for exemption from those piovisions of the North Canterbury Ihreshing Mills Employees' Award which stated the necessity for the establishment of a permanent camp. The application for exemption was made on the grounds that the r.-ylius of operation ot the smaller mills was so small that the expense was nut warranted. Jhe application was heard before the Court on November loth, his Honour Mr Justice Fraser presided, and associated with him were Mr W. Cecil Prime, employers' assessor, and Mr A. L. Monteith, employees' assessor. At the conclusion of the hearing the Court stated that the names would be added, but that; the filial making of the order would be deferred until sueli time as a special clause, applying to accommodation and food on American mills, could be drafted. The Court's final decision was that the following names be added as parties to the award: —L. lJonald (Leeston), E. W. Eaden (Ashburton), J. A. Foster (Ladbrooks), W. D. Jelfe (Waiau), T. C. Robinson (Rothcrham), Thwaites Brothers (Hororata), and T. M. Wliittington (Jlotimau). In joining the parties to the award the Court makes the following special provisions t.o relate to them: — In the case of American and similar mills operating within a radi~ of 10 miles from their base, it shall be sufficient compliance with the requirements of clause 8 of the award if the employer: Conveys the workers to and from their respective places of residence each day; arranges, where the workers do not provide their own meals, for the supply of sufficient and substantial to the workers at the usual times and at reasonable prices; and makes provision for adequate shelter (and where necessary for conveyance thereto) in case of inclemency of the weather interrupting the work. A memorandum attached to the award says: "The special provisions annexed to the order represent the decision of a majority of the Court. The employees' assessor, Mr A. L. Monteith, thinks the 10 miles radius is excessive, in that; it covers an area 20 miles across, and that owners of American mills who undertake contract threshing as a business should be placed under relat'vely the .same conditions as to accommodation as the owners of larger mills. Mr Monteith does not dissent from the provision made in respect of the supply of meals."