ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2772, 16 May 1916, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT

AWARDS FILED

NIGHT BAKING CONDEMNED

The Court of Arbitration has filed its arard in the Pastrycooks and Bakers' Dispute. The award embodies the recominondations of the Conciliation Council, and adds some, special provisions for automatic bakeries. The hours of starting work throughout the industry are fixed at 4 a.m. of later, but in the case of businesses having country deliveries the starting time may bo 3 a.m., and on days preceding a double holiday it may be 2 n.ra,

The following memorandum was attack ed to-the award:—"At the Conciliation Council, tho inasfcar bakers and employees arrived at a complete agreement, which is embodied in this award. At the hearing before tho Court, application was made for special provisions to be inserted in Tespect to automatio bakeries, and the Court heard evidence, upon this question. The main object of the application was to remove, or at least to modify, the restrictions imposed in connection with night baking. The Court has always been opjxwod to night baking, and if the_ concessions asked for by,the representatives of automatic bakeries were conceded they would have also to bo conceded to all master bakers, in order to place all competitors in tho industry on equal footing, t'ho effect of which would bo to reintroduce night baking with all its evil consequences to tho workers. This tho Court was not prepared to do, but it has made some special provisions with regard to automatio bakeries which may afford them some facilities for carrying on this special class of business. '!lie solo .object of night baking appears to bo to meet tho demand of consumers for an early delivery of freshly-baked bread, and the Court would, if practicable, prohibit all" night baiting, tho effect of which would bo to compel consumers to accept bread, which, if not quite so palatable as newly-baked bread, would probably be more wholesome. As, howevor, tho Court cannot control bakers, who do not employ workers, it could not in fairness imposo this rostriotion .upon bakers who. do employ workers, as this would givo tho former class of bakers an undue advantage over the latter in competition for customers. If, as the Court thinks, it. is desirablo to abolish night baking, this can only be effected by legislation oji the sufr jecV STOREMEN'S AWARD. The Court of Arbitration has also filed its award in the Storomcn's dispute. Briefly, the award provides that a week's work shall consist of from U. hours to 48 hours, with a minimum wage of .£2 15s. for workers over the age of 21 years. Rates of pay for juniors are to riso from 15s. per week, for. workers aged 17 years, to 355. per week, for workers aged 21 years. '; . AN INTERPRETATION. Decision has been given by the Arbitration Court on au application by tho' Inspector of Awards for ; interpretation of a clause in tho boot trade award, 1912. Tho Court was asked to say whether .it was competent to employ an assistant ou wax-thread machines and pay less f than the rates prescribed by the nward.' The Court replied in the negative. • The award clqarly provided that females employed working wax-thread machines must be paid a minimum wage of £1 15s. a. week, or, in tho case of their not being employed continuously for «uch period an hourly wage at the same rate.