ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2465, 19 May 1915, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT

THREE AWARDS

UNION REFUSED PREFERENCE

An important decision has been given by the Court of Arbitration in the matter of preference. The decision is embodied in a memorandum attached to Mie Wellington Building Trades Labourers' Award, which was filed yesterday morning; with the Clerk of Awards (Mr. G. S. Clark). Tho only questions submitted to the Court in this dispute were tliose of wages and preference. The Court granted one penny per hour iiiorease in the rate of wages, but refused the demand for preference. The memorandum attached to the award contained the^ following remarks: "This (the increase in wages) must not be regarded as establishing a standard wage for similar workors in other parts of tho Dominion, as the increase is granted owing to the exceptionally high rents which workers in this district bave to pay for suitable dwelling-houses. With regard to preference, it was proved before the Court that tho members of this union, in November, 1913, during tho currency of an award which granted them preference, went out on strike. In doing so they violated the fundamental purpose of tho Industrial .Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which is tho prevention of strikes. They have, therefore, forfeited any legitimate claim to preference, and the usual preference clause has, therefore, been omitted from tho award."

TAXI-DRIVERS' AWARD. The award of the Court in tho TaxiDrivers' Dispute was based on the recommendations of the Conciliation Council, the Court's usual preference clauso being added. The award is to operate in Wellington on a five-mile radius from the G.P.0., and to remain in force from Monday next until July i, 1917. j ' '

ELECTRICAL WORKERS' WAGES,

In the Electrical Workers' Dispute, the award of the Court of Arbitration raises the minimum wage of journeymen to Is. Od. per hour to bring it into lino with the wages awarded in other skilled industries. Otherwise the now award is based on tho old award.