ARBITRATION COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

4 FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE. (Br Tileirrmh.—l'fcss Vtsoolatlaa.l Christchurch, April 22. The judgment of Mr. Justice Sim, in the agricultural and pastoral labourers' dispute sets out that when the disputo was before the Court in November last, it was held to be incomplete, as to parties,, so far as it referrod to general farm hands and day labourers. This was to enable the Workers' Union to mako application to add all farmers in the industrial district as parties to tho dispute. In answer to tho union's motion asking for direction, nothing can be added to tho judgment given in .December last; the union must bring before the Court a list of all farmers in the district, and apply to have them added as parties to the dispute. On this being done the Court would join them as parties. To, make provisions as to citing them, tho union s application for permission to effect citation by advertisement could not be granted, as tho conditions of the Act had not been complied .with. Tho hearing of the dispute, however, in so far as it related to musterers and pack- ' ers, was continued. Tho weekly wage of musterers is increased to £2 "Ss., and of packers to £1 155., while tho wages of youths have been increased by 2s. fid. per week, and tho rate for snow-raking has been increased to 15s. per day. With regard to tho shepherds' position, it is much the same as when in 191)8 the Court refused to include them in an award. Tho union failed to show that there is anv desire on tho part of (he shepherds to have their wages fixed by the Court, or that thero is any necessity for an award. Of the witnesses called, only one had been employed recently as a permanent shepherd, and two others had done some casual sliepherding A in the lambing season. The application for am award is dismissed. The further hearing of the dispute was adjourned to the next sitting of the Court in Christchurch.