SOFT GOODS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 206, 20 May 1918, Page 6

SOFT GOODS TRADE

DECISION 01? ARBITRATION

COURT.

, Ike decision of tho Arbitration Court in the#\ elluigton soft goods employees' dispute nns been filed. The judgment of tho Court states; that the Wellington soft goods award was miulo by agreement between the union and tiie employers cited to cover the whole industrial district of Wellington. The only employers cited on the application for the award were those carrying oil business.? in Wellington city and suburbs. On a subsequent application to add as parties to the award all the employers engaged in the soft goods trade in the country towns throughout the Wellington industrial district, petitions were presented from tho workers in most of the country tuwns opposing the applications and those petitions were so extensively signed us to leave no reasonable doubt that practically the whole of the workers were opposed to the application as being contrary to their interests. The country employers objected to their being joined to the award, in the framing of" the terms of which they lwtt(/ no opportunity of being hoard. Tho Court held that in view of the opposition of the employers and of the groat majority of tho workers engaged in the country towns, and in the absence of any evidence that the workers in the country were being underpaid or wore subject to unfair conditions, tho application should he dismissed.

The Court added that it seemed plain that it might bo reasonable and proper that terms and conditions which woro accpptablo by employers in the city should be modified when sought to be applied to such country towns as Levin, Oliakunp, Otaki, t'oxton, ITuntcrville, Woodvillo, and Feathorstou. The Court heard ovidonce on the application in WarKimui. Palmerston Norfh, Napier, ami Wellington.