ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 259, 27 July 1920, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT

LOCAL SITTINGS OPENED

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS The Wellington sittings of tho Arbitration Court opened yesterday morning, .Mr. Justice .Stringer presided, ami tho assessors were Messrs. W. Scott (for the employers) and J. A. M'Cullongh (for the employees).

PLEA FOR EXEMPTION. A plea for exemption from the propped award of the Wellington Timber Yard and Sawmill Worker/ Union was ontercd by Mr. C. Grayndlcr on behalf of something liko 1000 workora in tho King[Country. .Mr. Grayndier said tliat theuung' Country men had not previously been affected oj or awards of the Wellington union. They had had 110 siy in tho making of tho particular agreement that it was now proposed to convert into an award, and the conditions they enjoyed were better than those obtfiinod by the Wellington workors. Mr. J. Read, who appeared on bohalf of tho union, observed that there was 110 King Country sawmill workere' union registered under the Arbitration Act. Though the King Country came within tho Wellington industrial district, an unregistered union had sprung up there and had begun to organise without consulting the Wellington union: Tho Court decided t*> hear further discussion of the matter on Monday next.

COACH WORKEES' AWARD. In the Wellington coach workers' ease, the Court was informed that the employers wero willing to aocept all the provisions of the Auckland award, but tho date on which that award camo into operation. Tho union representative .agreed. Tho date of expiration of tho award was fixed as May 24, 1022, and tho question of the date from which tho award should operate wa3 reserved. COMPLETE RECOMMENDATIONS. Complete recommendations from the Conciliation Council were presented in the oases of tho Wellington iron and brass moulders, the Wellington boilermakers, the Wellington metal workeis' assistants, the Wellington engineers,, the builders and general labourers of tho ■Wellington oountry districts, the Wellington plumbers and gasfitters, tho Wellington letterpress printers, lithographers and paper cutters, the Wellington brewers and bottlers, and the Wellington motor mechanics.

BASIC WAGE ANB-BONUS. A large number of unions had filed applications (under- tho Courfa pronouncement of April 27 lost) for increases in tho cost of living bonus, or, alternatively, for increases in .the basic wage. Of these applications, tho following wero heard yesterday, tho Court reserving its decision in each case:—Wellington motorcar and horse-drivers' application; Wellington shop tailorosses'i Wellington painters and decorators'; Wellington tailors'; Wellington timber yards and sawmill workers ; Wellington City Corporation electrical linesmen's; electrical workers'; Wellington district enginedrivel's'; AVellington and oountry districts licensed hotel workers'.

In opposing tho application of tho Wollington licensed hotel workers for tho full bonus of 6s. a week, Mr. W. A. Gronfell said' that the workers woro provided by the employers with food, housing, fuol, and lighting. Such workers f.s were not provided by tho employers with these things received monetary consideration instead. Ho suggested that only half tho boiius be granted. Mr. E. Kennedy, representing the union, claimed tha.t the workers wero .entitled to the full amount.

FIXTURES FOR HEARING. Appointmonts for the hearing of cases woro made as follow:— Tuesday, July 27.—80de1l v. Cable and Co.; cooks ana stewards' applications. Wednesday, July 28.—Appeal of the Wellington municipal employees against a refusal to register their organisation. Thursday, July St).— I Turpin v. lUingataua Timber Company; Bores v. Lamb; Dominion shearers and shea hands' application. Friday, July 30.-Wellington typographical workers' disputo; Dominion letterpress printers' dispute. Saturday, July 31—Kelburn and Karon tramway employees' disputo. Monday, August 2.—Cooks find stewards' application; Wellington timber yards' and sawmills dispute. Tuesday, August 3.—Masterton carpenters' disputo; furniture trade femalo employees' dispute. Wednesday, August 4.—Wellington retail grocers' assistants' dispute; Wellington bakers and pastrycooks' application; furniture trade award interpretation. Thursday, August s.—Wellington builders and general labourers' disputo; Wellington biograph operators' dispute; Wellington performing musicians' dispute.