ARBITRATION COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 73, 19 December 1907, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

(bt telegraph—fkess association.) ' Christchurcli, December 17/ The Arbitration Court' gave judgment today in a case in.which the Westport Coal Company charged the Denniston Coal Workers' Union with having committed a'breach of the award by inducing members to refuse to abide by Clause 16. The award provided that tho men should be at-the face for eight hours. The Union was of opinion that tho Coal'•' Mines I Act of 1007 hnd established the " bank to bank " principle; and hnd'reduced their working hours accordingly: The Court held that, the Union had committed a'.breach of the award, but the Union , officers had acted under a bonafide misapprehension. No line would ho inflicted!-' The Union < must ' abide by the "terms' of tho .award, and any further breach would. havo to be severely punished, nndithe Union was ordered to pay costs." ' CANTERBURY DISPUTES. ... ~, , .Christchurch, December 18. The Arbitration Court has made awards in tho Canterbury curriers' and bookmakers' disputes: In the first case it is provided that the week's work shall consist of fortyeight hours: overtime, time and a quarter for the first two'hours, time, and a ' half after that; wages' to be Is. 2d.. per hour, and tho regular holidays to he recognised. The employers are to find all tools. ' One unskilled worker'is to be allowed to every six, or fraction of six curriers.. Apprentices not to exceed one to each three or fraction of the. first three journeymen; preference ,to be given to Unionists. In tho bootmakers' dispute it was pro--vidod that the award shall apply to the clicking, making, finishing out, aii.'l repairing departments, preference to 'be given, to Unionists; hours of work (unless mutually arranged) to be between 7.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., on'five days of the week, and from 7.30 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. on the recognised half-holiday; wages to he not less than'ls. per hour; an employer to be permitted to employ his hands, for part of a'day,, but for not less than four hours; apprentices at the rate of one to every three or fraction of three men in tho clicking department, in the making and repairing department one to four; the 'provision of the award to apply to Chrisfclnirch and suburbs only. ' ' •