ARBITRATION COURT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1824, 9 August 1913, Page 14

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE SADDLERS' DISPUTE, Tho'Court-of Arbitration, sat yesterday afternoon to deal with -the saddlers' dispute. Mr. Justice Sim presided, and sit-, ting with him as assessors were: Mr. William' Scott (employers' representative) and Mr. J. A. M'Cullough. (employees' representative). Mr. E. Kennedy appeared for i the Saddlers' Union, while Mr. W. A. \Y. Grenfell appeared for the employers.- ; , Mr. Kennedy informed the Court that; the union was prepared to accept tho recommendations of tho Council of Conciliation. His Honour remarked that in the preference clause tho Court would havo to 'insert a provision for "an open door." Otherwise the union might seek to make a- close corporation of the organisation. JIJ. Grenfell raised objection to the preference clause. The employers, •he said, asked tho Court—if preference were to be granted—to grant it in the form it existed in the expiring award, as tlfat clause had been agreed upon by tho parties. His Honour, after learning that there were only about ten non-unionists in 70 workers at the trade in the district, said it did not appear to be a question of much importance. Mr. Scott remarked that tha clause in .the recommendations appeared to mate for comnulsory unionism. His Honour: There's nothing compulsory. If a worker does not'join the union lie may be brought before the Court and tined, and there's an end of it. After sonio further discussion, Mr. Scott said tho position appeared to "be that tho' parties had agreed upon .'conditions and rates of pay, and left the'question of . preference to the Court. Mr. Kennedy said that was so. but -tho union had signed un to a fairly low scale of pay, believing that the Court .would grant preference. Decision was reserved.