ARBITRATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 3

ARBITRATION.

TYPOGRAPHICAL DISPUTE. FURTHER EVIDENCE. Hearing of evidence in the Typographical Dispute iros continued before the Court of Arbitration yesterday. Mr. Justice Sim ' presided, and sitting with him were Messrs. Wui. Scott (employers' representative) and J. A. M'Cullough (employees' representative).. In this dispute the Federated Unions are seeking a Dominion award, the following districts being concerned: Wellington, Northern, Tarauaki, Gisborne, Nelson, Mai-lbor-ough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Mr. J. W. F. M'Dongall (Wellington) npj>oared>' , iovUie hand- 'section of Uie workers, and' Mr. J. Harris (Dunedin) for the machine section of the workers. Mr. W. Pryor, secretary of the Employers' Association, appeared for the employers, and associated with him were Messrs. Geo. Fenwick (Diinedin), J. M'lndoo (Diincdin), and N. M'Kobio (Waihi). Particulars of the demands of the federated unions, and of the counter-pro-posals of the employers were published in yesterday's issue. On Thursday the unions had tendered only portion of their evidence in regard to the hand section of the dispute. This was continued yesterday morning. While the first witness was giving evidence yesterday morning, Mr. Pryor announced that he could shorten tho proceedings a little by agreeing to the following clause in the demand of tho hand workers!— * When a compositor has to come back after the completion of the day s work, and notice has not been given to him during working hours that ho will be required to work overtime, ho . shall be paid a "call" of not less than 2s 6d., or if two and a half hours shall elapse between tho time of leaving work and the time fixed for resuming work as tho result of such "call" if hands are notified of a "oall" before leaving work.

Mr. Pryor pointed out that the clanso had nlreadr bsen agreed to in the demands of tie machine worker?, and that no further evidence need bo tendered on ( the question. At 2.10 p.m. the evidence for the workers concerned in the hand section of the dispute was completed. Mr. Harris then opened the ease for the machine workers. In doing so lie referred to the demands, indicating the clauses to which tho employers agreed in their counter-proposal?. He also indicated some other points of minor importance which had agreed upon at a conference on the previous afternoon. In regard to tho operators employed on the "New Zealand Herald" and the "Auckland Star," Mr. Harris stated that some little time ago these men had entered into an agreement with the proprietors by which the rates of pay were fixed at £3 Us. (day work) and M 2s. (night work). Under this agreement the men had undertaken not to ask for any further increase for two years. . This agreement still had "to run for a period of fifteen months, and the federation would ask the Court to allow it to expire,, Evidence was then called and did not conclude until 4.30 p.m. ■■ Three' of the witnesses were subjected to lengthy crossexamination by., Mr. ..Fenwick regarding the alleged custom of charging- for blocks. They all maintained that it was nn ol'l custom to charge.for blocks. Ono witness declared that in'tho Dunediu "Star" office tho custom had been invariable until a decision of Commissioner Triggs (presiding on a. committee set up under the award) allowed half charge, only. This witness denied that the , decision referred to a particular ease, and claimed that it was by way of an interpretation. At 4.30 p.m. the question, arose as to whether or not the unions were required to call evidence to establish that the conditions in the country aro the same as in tho cities. This was in consequence ol tho employers' counter-proposal to classify according to population. His Honour intimated that the unions should call all the evidence they had at the same timo. Tho adjournment would be taken at that stage' to give them an. opportunity of considering the matter before the morning. LETTERPRESS MACHINISTS. When the Court of Arbitration resumed its sittings yesterday it was announced that tho letterpress Machinists' dispute would not bo taken before Monday next. OTHER BUSINESS. It was also announced in the Court ,o( Arbitration yesterday that the Merchants' Assistants' dispute will bo mentioned again on Monday as arranged. All tho other fixtures made for Monday next have been adjourned until Thursday next, September 20, at 10 a.m.