MARKET GARDENERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 63, 8 December 1920, Page 3

MARKET GARDENERS

APPLICATION FOR AN AWARD BRIEF REFERENCE TO CHINESE EXCLUSION Tho Chinese market gardener and his exclusion,from industrial awards was the subject of some discussion at the Arbi.rration Court yesterday during tho hearing, of a dispute resulting from tho application of the Wellington Gardeners' Kmployces' Union for an. award. The dispute had beon previously before the Conciliation Commissioner, but had been referred to the Court for.adjustment.

•'' Yesterday's application was coneerhod mostly with labour employed by thoCity Council on its reserves. Mr. .1. Eead represented tho union, and Mr. W. Grenfcll appeared for Messrs. W. P. Hardy. T. Waugh, and J. 11. Poolo, nursjT.vinon cited, and. asked that their names should, he deleted from the dispute. He contended that Messrs. Hardy and Poolo Awrn not employers of labour. Mr. Waush was tho only employer besides the Citv Council, as matters stood at nrasent. There were several nurserymen in Wellington industrial'district who had not been cited—for instance a number of Chinese, including th,? To Aro Seed Company, which he contended should havo beon oitoil On Mr. Iferid objecting to the exclnpion of' Mr. WaiiKh, hr an employer, the lnlt*r (rave evidonce that lie had a number of returned sobliers in his emplov. addinc "I am always desirous of helpinir t!ie= : i m'V One of (he ex-soldier employees had bpen Rasscd. and was subject to sudden and severe illnesses: others occasionally wore unable to work full time. Tie cop."-«mte! that fair vnv '""1 been mi'' to these men. one man having reepived M a week at the commencement of his employment, the wane lat.?r incvensnd to £i Ids. "Two other men I onjrnjred at 12s; a day," said Mr. Wawth, "and they are now receiving 13s.' Tho nvn seMc health.in the open air, and I am doinjf my best for them." . His TTonour wished to know t.iie reason why other nurserymen in the district had ■not. been cited. It was clear that the Act required that all representatives of an industry should be cited wlipn an award was'desired in a certain riiotriet. Fresh claims on this account would have to lie made out against the district uuc serymen. but the caw could proccd as fir a-- th- Citv Council and the Jfetone Dorouuh Council were concerned. Tfenro'enKns the C'ty Council. the Town CVvk (Mr. ,T. H.-Mmeri said ho understood an nsrreemcnt had been come to with the workers at the Conciliation Council hcarim*. "All the papers wero signed." he added, "and I cannot understand whv the ease has been brought before the Court." Mr. Head explained that as yet there had been no agreement reached with reforesee 'to custodians of municipal re-Fcn-os. There was no award made lo govern the conditions of their employwent. . . . .

At' this stnsvllr. Palmer cmphnsjVd tho point that" it was' absolutely imp™piblp to classify custodians. They were not necessarily skilled nurserymen—tl'.i'v misdit ho aivm their positions as a mark of appreciation for long service, or for Rome meritorious service during a term of employment i.n another- sphere. "There nfi several kinds of custodians." h,.-> said. "Some are in, charge of reserves such as thnt at th« Bn*in Ueservo. or. indeed nt a bench. Are these men to be classified as skilled nurserymen?" . On Mr. Bead statins? that'he desirod to call evidence as to the conditions under which "custodians were working, ITi<! Honour Ftiid that unless a definition as te "custodian" war made, tlm easo would he reverted to the Conciliation Commissioner. "This Court -wHI not attempt to make the definition. ]i« added. "T su"i.«Rt that the aer<"-menv. as it exists,' be'accepted, and then perhaps y"U may be' aid" to determine what is to bo done with the custodians." It was decided to take this eonrw. and tI, P -.c" award is now oi'crafive as far as the City Council and tlu> Pctone Borough Council are concerned;.