ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2324, 4 December 1914, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT

COMPENSATION CLAIM. ' The Wellington sittings of the Court of Arbitration were commenced yesterday before His Honour Mr. Justice Stringer and Messrs. W. Pryor (employers', representative), and J. A. M'Cullough. (employees'' representative). In the compensation olaim, Amelia Maria White r. His Majesty the King, the Crown admitted liability for the sum of MS& 45., together with JBII 12s. for funeral expenses. The Court was, therefore, concerned only with the division of the money. The Court decided that half the, money should go to the widow, .£2OO to be held on trust for a son of eleven years of age, and the remainder for a daughter seventeen years of age. PLUMBERS' AWARD.' After hearing the parties on the Wellington Gas Company's application for exemption from the Plumbers' and Gasfitfcers' Award, the-Court reserved' decision on the matter. No objection was raised to the exemption of the Union Steam Ship Company and the Patent Slip Company from the provisions if the same award, and the names of those companies were removed from the award, while partial exemption was granted to the Wellington Meat Export Co. UNDER WHICH LAW? In the case of R. A. Bollard, Inspector of, Awards, v. H. C. Gibbons and Co., seeds men, the decision of the Court was sought as to whether .the defendants' establishment was one regulated wholly by the Shops and Offices Act, or whether the hours of some of the employees should be governed by the wholesale merchants' storemen's award. The Court expressed the opinion that the establishment was one regulated by the Shops and Offices Act, and the case, which had been brought in the form of an application to enforce the award, was therefore dismissed.

. NAPIER CARPENTERS' DISPUTE. A partial settlement had been arrived at by the parties to the-Napier carpenters' dispute, and the Court was asked to decide the remaining items. When.. the matter was mentioned yesterday, the representative of the employers seated that it was desired to place evidence before tie Court, particularly in regard to the payment (25.) asked for country work. In the course of argument, the representative of the union offered to give way on all the points in dispute with the exception of country work. _ After conferring for some time with the other members of the Court, His Honour said that, as there was one employer from the district present, the Court would like to hear him. He could be regarded as a typical witness. This evidence was then taken, and His Honour announced that if after consideration the Court was able to make an award without hearing further evidence it would do 60. If not, the parties would bo notified. OTHER CASES. . The case of James Harris v. fhe Wellington City Corporation, and the case of John Wm. Presling v. the Poplar Flax Milling Co.,' Ltd., wore adjourned to the next sittings of the Court in Wellington.