CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 880, 2 May 1903, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night.

Tho Arbitration Court resumed this morning the hearing of the engine drivers and firemen’s dispute. It was stated that

it had been agreed in conference that 48 hours should constitute a week’s work ; ordinary ovortimo at time and a-quartor, special holidays doublo time; and enginedrivers necessarily holding a first-class competency certificate aro to get 10s por day, second-class 9s; locomotive work, smaller engines, 8s ; certificated firemen engaged firing and in charge, to have 8i; and if engaged in only firing 7s ; workers incapable of earning tho minimum wago to receive a loss sum fixed by a joint committee of employers and the Union, and in default of an agreement, by Iho chairman of tho Conciliation Board. The mattor of preference to unionists and minor questions aro to bo left to the decision of the Court.

Regarding tho reports of other engineers on electrical power schemes, Mr Hall-

.Jonns has been in communication with Mr Hancock, engineer of tho Bay County (California) power scheme. Ho is unable to leave America for two months, hut is writing to tho Minister, and no doubt will indicate tho torms on which he is prepared to visit tho colony. The other offers received by thu Minister nro being held over until the receipt of Mr Hancock's letter.

In a letter to Mr Taylor, M.H.R., the Minister for Public Works states that tho auxiliary buildings under cons'truetion at Scuclif'f, Sunnyside, and Porirua will eventually form part of the block, and will admit of improved classification of tho inmates. On completion of the prosent contract, further additions will probably be put in hand. Subsequently the Arbitration Court adjourned till Tuesday. Tho application for an award in the plumbers’ dispute has been withdrawn, and tho old award therefore holds good till superseded.

THE SCARLETINA EPIDEMIC. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. In Christchurch and suburbs, 37 cases of scarletina were repotted up to April 15th, and 3fi in t.ie jemainder of the month, making a total of 37. In the rest or flic Canterbury Health District, 43 cases were recorded up to April 15th, and 211 for the rest of the month. Tins shows a great decrease since March, in which month 134 cases were reported in Christchurch and suburbs and 10(1 in the rest of the district. STRICTURES ON THE ARBITRATION COURT. The Plumbers and Gaslitl ers’ Union, at a special meeting, passed a motion resolving : “ The proceedings before the Arbitration Court he withdrawn, as the members of the Union have no confidence in the Court as at present constituted, seeing that when awards are made the Court is unable to administer them. —as shown by the award fhe Auckland furniture trade dispute ani painters’ dispute in New Plymouth,”