THE DOMESTIC WORKER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2018, 1 March 1907, Page 1

THE DOMESTIC WORKER.

THE SHADOW OF THE COURT,

As the days go on the Domestic Workers’ Union (says the Wellington Post) is continuing the battle with the employers. The union’s claims have already been published, and much discussed in print, and now the debate has taken another turn. Copies of the c]aims have been forward-ed-to the'employers and enclosed with thorn there is an interesting leaflet. “ Dear Madam, —The enclosed claims of the Domestic Workers’ Union arc forwarded to you with the hope that you will acknowledge their reasonableness by signing the accompanying agreement. By doing so you will obviate the unpleasantness of appearing personally or by agent before the Conciliation Board or Arbitration Court. If such is your wish, please sign the agreement and return to .me on or before 26tli February, 1907.—Yours respectfully, W. H. Westbrooke, Assistant Secretary. This is the form of the pledge the mistresses are asked to sign:;—“lam willing to observe the conditions as stated in the claims of the Domestic Workers’ Union, and will abide by the same in ray future relationship with any domestic workers I may employ.” * In conversation with a Post reporter Mr. Westbrooke said that the circular was not intended as a veiled threat. It was merely desired to get an idea of how many employers would be willing now to endorse the claims set forth, and though those persons would bo among the number cited to appear before the board or court, it would be unnecessary for them to appear if they complied with the union’s request. He mentioned that there was so many employers that it would be almost impossible to get an agreement among them all, and it would be unfair to those who were willing to agree, if a large number of othors was left out. An agreement would only cover the parties who agreed. Ho saw no chance of an agreement that would he effective, and consequently he thought the probability was that the case wo_uld go straight on to the Arbitration Court after formal reference to the Conciliation Board. The union had power to take this course under section 60 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1905, which states: —“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, either party‘to an industrial dispute which lias been referred to a Board of Conciliation may, previous tp the hearing of such dispute by the board, file..with the clerk (of ‘awards) an application in writing requiring the dispute to be referred to the Court of Arbitration, and that court shall have jurisdiction to settle and determine such dispute in the same manner as if such dispute had been referred to the court under the provisions of section 59.” Citations are to he issued to each employer, and this communication will include a list of the claims and the names of all the persons cited. These names, says Air Westbrooke, exceed a thousand now, and the number is daily increasing. As soon as Air Westbrooke gets the necessary papers prepared and filed, it is intended to get the Arbitration Court machinery working,