ARBITRATION COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2045, 23 November 1907, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

A BADLY -PREPARED CASE. Press Association.

NAPIER, Nov. 22. Some strong remarks were .made by Air Justice' Sim at the Arbitration Court this morning on. tlie manner in which -the ease for the Napier wharf laborers hid been prc-pared for the Court. Mr D. 'McLaren, who appeared for the Union, questioned some compiled statements of Wages submitted by Mr Kirk-by on behalf of the shipping companies, hut his Honor sSid that ■this w.'as the only reliable evidence that the -Court bad had before it. The Union had been of no assistance in the but had simply brought forward witnesses with bare statements. Why, he asked Mr McLaren; ■who he believed was a leading l-igbt of -the -Wellington Trades .and Libor Council, did ho not advise the Unions to bring their cases properly prepared ? In the Common weal til Court tho other day the wives of workers were called to prove thecost of living and give other valuable evidence. Addressing Air -McLaren direct, bis Honor concluded: “The Unions should really produce proper evidence. It is absurd to come into Court with the evidence you have done. I.t is simply inlaying with the Court.”

SEVERAL CASES AT NAPIER. NAPIER, Nov. '22. At tilie Arbitration Court to-day. the President intimated that the Court mould take time to consider its decision in the Wharf Laborers’ Union’s case. Evidence on behalf of tile employees mas taken in connection mith the timber morkers’ dispute, but the Union’s representative .'announced that ho mould leave all his evidence for Palmerston North, and the further hearing of tlio dispute mas adipurned to that place. In connection mith the 'butchers’ dispute the Union called two witnesses, and the employers’ representatives mere heard. The further hearing of the case mas adjourned to Palmerston North. The Court then rose, and mill sit at Palmerston North on Tuesday.