ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2922, 7 November 1916, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT

A LIGHT LIST

MANY POINTS AGREED ON

The Court- of Arbitration opened a session in Wellington yesterday. Mr. Justice. Stringer presided, and with him on the Bench were Mossra. W. Scott (employers' representative) and J. A. M'C-ullgugh (workers' representative). The list of eases is small, and in every, instance, except in opp compensation case, a complete or .partial agreement has beeii arrived at. STOREMEN. Application was made by the .Storemen's Union fop the addition of several parties to the Wellington Wholesale Merchants' Storemen's Union. Mr. Monteath appeared for the union, and Mr. Grenfcll for soyeral of the firms cited. Li some of the cases the objections were upheld, notably in connection, with tho various city auctioneering firms. In other cases the parties were added. There was also an application for amendment to the storemen's award by the insertion of the following clause regarding hours of labour: "The time usually worked ija any day shall ho tho average hours ivorked daily with a ninerhour limit aurihg the three, calendar month? ended' May 29,1916, in tho respective establishments.; Mr. _ Monteath stated that the union desired, a more definite meaning to the clause gov T erning hourp. The clause as it' now stood was working unfairly in every house in Wellington, making it impbs-. sjble for any man to obtain overtime. On behalf of the employers, Mr. Grenfell objected to tho amendment. Ho submitted that the union should snow definitely that there was obvious defect. The Court had no alternative, •he held, but.to refuse the application. . The Court said it would consider the matter. ' "COACHWORKERS' DOMINION AWARD. Tho Dominion award in connection with tho coachmakers' • dispute was mado applicable to Wellington. Mr. Grenfell, on behalf of the employers, asked for a month's.notice before bringing the award into force. On behalf of the union Mr. G. Wall objected. It was decided that the award should come into force on November 13.

MASTERTON PAINTERS. . The Mastcrton Painters' Union mado application for an award on the lines of the agreement reached by the Conciliation Oauncil, tho only matter in dispute being wages. On behalf of the union, Mr. F. Cornwcll submitted that before the Council a complete agreement was reached on all points, including wages, which were fixed' at Is. Cd. per hour. Such a wage was now being paid by .all shops in tho district. It was the ruling rate, and he, personally, had sent men to work in the district at the rate mentioned.

The President of the Court intimated that the Commissioner had stated that there was a complete agreement. Mr. Pryor, representing the employers, said that the meeting of the Conciliation Council was held at very short notice, and tlie rate of Is. 6d. per hour was tentatively agreed to, it being understood that' such had been granted in

Wellington.. It had since been learnt that the rate in the; city was Is. 4Jd. per hour. . The President said that the Court would givo the wages question full consideration. PERFORMING MUSICIANS.. The recent agreement arrived at in the Wellington Performing Musicians' dispute came before tho Court for confirmation, and was mado into an award. Mr. W, Grenfell appeared for the employers, and Mr. M. J. Reardon for tho union. Neither side had any comments to make. Tho Wellington Opera House Company was struck off the list of parties. BAKERS' AWARD. „ On the application of the WelHngton Bakers' TJiiwn several provincial parties were added to the bakers' award. There were' no objections." JEWELLERS' DISPUTE. Except in regard to certain phases of country work, there was a complete agreement in the Wellington Manufacturing Jewellers' dispute. Mr. E. Kennedy appeared for the union and Mr. Grenfell for the employers —both, city and country. Decision on the points raised—mainly concerning the hours of labour which shall be. worked by a journeyman who also e*ocs shop duty—was reserved.

COMPENSATION CASES. The hearing of tho compensation case Lyons v. tho Union' Steam Ship Company was fixed for to-day. It was •announced that settlements had been reached in the cases Stewart v. Blake and Donovan v. the King. 'Mr. P. J. O'ltegan appeared for tho plaintiff in each case. .