LABOUR MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 62, 6 December 1907, Page 9

LABOUR MATTERS.

■' ■ ' *— —— ■ ■" :v • WEST COAST COALING , CASES. '. ■ (BY ' TELEGRAPH—r-BESS ASSOCIATION.) - Westport, December 5. The Arbitration Court completed a two days' sitting here yesterday. In the case of Frank Cullen v. the Westport Coal Company, a claim for £300 for alloged permanent injury, £160 having, been paid, tho Court allowed £120 in a lump sum to complete the payments. . In tho case Emily Leece v. the Westport Coal Company, a claim for £400 for the death of claimant's husband, tho Court made an order that one-third of that sum bo paid to the widow, and the remainder bo placed in the hands of tho Public Trustee to add minister for the widow and family. The Inspector of Awards applied for the enforcement of an award, to compel the Westport Coal Company to pay a driver in. charge of an air compressor lls. a day instead, of 10s., as paid by the Company. The claim was practically one.of interpretation.. Decision was reserved. .-,.. ~ . .-■,. In Denniston Coalminers , Union v. Westport Coal Company, alleged breach of award by failing to pay 3d. extra for false pr bad roof, the Company agreed, to pay the extra rate. •. ■ .-..-• The Mokihiniii Miners' Union and the Soddonvillo State Mine applied for an award. After several conferences, a settlement was amicably agreed to, and tho Court will be asked to make an award accordingly. The Granity Miners' Union applied for a new award. After hearing ovidence on a number of disputed points,', the Court re-, served its decision. : - : ■ ■ . In tho case Westport Coal Company v. Denniston Miners' Union, an alleged breach of award, tho miners deciding to work only eight hours from bank to bank, the Court ruled that underground workers had to work' eigjit hours at the working faco, the miners being entitled to Bd. per hour per. shift where their wages are 9s. or over per day, 6d. where 65., and 2d. where less than 6s. por day, for v travelling time. Tho Court had not yet decided what order it should make in the matter. ■ FARM LABOURERS' CLAIMS!:; -• " I-' , ' Timaru,' December s;'; i The farm labour case occupied the attention of tho Conciliation Board yesterday. Two witnesses on behalf of the interests of' hill runholdors wore heard, namely, Messrs. G. J. Hamilton and W. ; D. Acland. Both were certain that no satisfactory award could bo made affecting hill stations, and though the industry as an industry would not be iiijurod; the harmonious relations ' now existing between employers and employed would ho, and the men would suffer, through the forme;- being harassed by petty restrictions