HIGHER WAR BONUS WANTED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 183, 23 April 1918, Page 4

HIGHER WAR BONUS WANTED

CASE FOR ARBITRATION COURT. By TcleEraph—Press Association. Christcliurch, April 22. A somewhat unusual case was before the Conciliation Council to-day. Some time ago .a dispute was brought by the Canterbury Timber Yards, Sawmills, and Coalyards Employees' Unions and a complete agreement 'conic to. The union subsequently requested a higher l'ato of bonus, but the employers objected to conciliation proceedings, and the union then withdrew the application from the Arbitration Court. The employers' representative applied to have the agreement Hade an award, but the Court would not agree, the application being out of order. To-day when the case was reopened in the Conciliation Council the representative of the union explained that the union had decided to ask for a higher war bonus, following the granting of such a rato to similar workers 111 Wellington, which was granted after the Christchu.rch conciliation proceedings. The employers' representative stated that itlio.employers were not prepared to grant a higher war bonus. The matter had been settled, and ho thought should not be reopened. The Commissioner agreed that the employers' contention that when a party to an agreement failed to abide bv a decision of responsible men the whole function of conciliation would fail. After discussion it was decided to submit the whole question to the Arbitration Court: ■ '