THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 December 1901, Page 3

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

(PBB FBBS3 ASSOCIATION).

Napier Dec 3,

The Arbitration Court sat to-day, taking evidence in the furniture trades, painters and decorators, iron and brass moulders, and tin plate and sheet metal workers disputes. In all these it was contended for the employers that if the demands of the Union were acceeded to it would mean that a lot of wcrk would have to be discontinued as local conditions rendered it impossible to continue the manufacture of many lines at a higher wage than was at present paid.

In the painters dispute the employees argued that the rate of living was higher in Napier than in Wellington and the rate of pay asked for was a fair one. In the iron and brass moulders dispute the employers were not represented as they are satisfied with the existing condition of their employment.

No evidence wa* tendered in the timber trades disputes, it having been decided that the employers would appear before the Court. At Falmerston North there was also no evidence given in the book binders dispute, the Union representatives stating that they were satisfied with the enquiries they had made regarding the state of the trade.

In Napier the Court concluded its business to-day, and leaves here on Thursday for Palmerston North, sitting there on