COURT OP ARBITRATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2457, 10 May 1915, Page 9

COURT OP ARBITRATION

SHIPWRIGHTS' AWARD

DISPUTE SETTLED AT LAST

The Wellington Shipwrights' Dispute, which has long been before the .attention of the country, mainly owing to its connection with the late strike, has now been settled. On Saturday the Court of Arbitration liled an award, and in tlie memorandum attached states: — "The principal question in the disputo was as to wages which the Court ha 6 fixed at the same rato as in the Port Chalmers award. Application was made to the Court that foremen and workers under a weekly engagement should bo excluded from t-lis operation of th& award. Foremen have been excluded, but the Court is of opinion that workers under a weekly engagement should bo entitled to the benelit of the award, and they have therefore not been excluded." The schedule attached to the award provides for a 44 hours' week, at a rate of pay for journeymen of Is. 7d. per hour. Time and a quarter is to be Eaid for overtime for the first two ours, and time and a half thereafter. Provision is also made for extra payment on holidays. An hour at midday is 'fixed for meal hour, but the worker may be required to work then at the rate of time and a quarter. Apprentices are provided for at wages ranging from 10s. for the first year to 355. a, week for the fifth year; and the proportion of apprentices is fixed at one to three journeymen. When \a is required to lodge at other than his usual place of abode, he is to be conveyed to and from his work free of charge, or travelling expenses paid; suitable board and lodging to be provided by the employer. Workers are to be at the employers' place of business at the time for commencing work, but if, by previous arrangement, tlio worker is to go direct to another place where work lias to be performed, ho shall be paid travelling time for any distance' travelled two miles from his residence, calculated at the rate of three miles an hour. For salvage work the minimum rate is to be a matter of arrangement between ,the employer and the worker, but in the event of failure to agree the matter is to be referred to the Inspector of Awards, who is to decide any dispute. Should he he unable to settle a dispute, it will bo referred to the Court for decision. Workers regularly employed for a week or more shall be entitled td two hours' notice for the purpose of sharpening tools, or shall be paid two hours' extra time. A clause, dealing with "dirty work" provides that workers employed in the dock shall Teceive Is. 9d. per hour. Preference and undor-rats workers' clauses are provided, but not more than one under-vate worker to three fully-paid men shall be employed. The scope of the award is twelve miles from the post office, and the term two years from May 17 Qualified exemption is granted to the Harbour Board, subject to the payment of the minimum wage. TAXI-DRIVERS' DISPUTE. An agreement has been arrived at in the Wellington Licensed Taxi-Drivers' Dispute, on the lines of the . Christchurch award, with some modifications. The award provides a short week of sixty hours, and a long woelc of soventy hours at a minimum rate of £2 12s. 6d. per week. Mr. E. Kennedy, who appeared for the union, mentioned the matter in the Court on Saturday, and intimated that the union was prepared to accept the recommendations made by the Conciliation Council. Mr. W. A. W. Gronfell said that the employers were willing to accept the recommendations with the exception of the preference clause. A number of drivers were objecting to an award. The_ general method adopted was for a minimum wage to be paid, and in addition a share of the profits, and the men he had specified were desirous that the existing conditions should continue. The owners objected to having to inquire whether a man was a member of the union, and held that selection should be free. There were numerous conditions which had to be taken into consideration, such as appearance, the fact that men had charge of trust moneys, and sometimes had charge of cars valued at from £600 to £700. Employers had to be careful in selecting a man, and for this reason they were opposed to preference. The recommendations differed from tlte Ghristclrarcli award in that a provision had been made for the reduction of time through sickness and also default, and for two days' notice in place of a week's notice. The_ President pointed out that 110 objection had been raised to preference in Ohristchurch'. Mr. Grenfell: Tho employers know by the experience of seven or eight years past that it was almost hopeless to ask for tlie non-granting of preference, and therefore asked for the least harmful preference. Tn Christchurch the matter had really been settled between tho parties. Mr. Kennedy said that all members of the union had to undergo a test before licenses were granted by the City Council. The President said that the Court would take time to consider the question of preference. A COMPENSATION CLAIM. In tho compensation case Jensen v. the Huddart-Parker Co., Mr. P. J. O'Regan, for the claimant, said that tha case had been adjourned in order that the Court might selcct a 'medical man to investigate as to the injuries. The President said that the Court would be willing to hear counsel after the doctor's report had been submitted. The case was formally adjourned till the next sitting of the Court in July. _ The sitting of the Court of. Arbitration in Wellington has now concluded. A sitting will be hekl in Dunedin on May 11, and the next fixture is Auckland, on June 2.