ARBITRATION COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2148, 25 March 1908, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

WELLINGTON SITTINGS. THE BAKERS’ DISPUTE. Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 24. Tho hearing of the bakers’ dispute began at tho Arbitration Court today. In this case the Conciliation Board had made a recommendation which the employers declined to accept. It provided for a week of 48 hours, and the time of commencing to be not earlier than 4 a.m., save on days following one or two holidays, when the hours should be 3 a.m., or 2 a.m., according to circumstances. Among other provisions of recommendation were wages : Foreman £3 per week, any man save foreman working over three others £2 10s, jobbers 12s per day, and all employers to receive dry pay. When the employer himself is substantially engaged in the bakehouse, he shall not commence work earlier than tho hour mentioned, and shall attend to his own ovens, set ferments, and take equal share in sponging. Mr. Westbrooke, for the mens’ uiuon, pointed out that in country districts,whore tho Conciliation Board bad sat, tho master bakers were fully represented, at Masterton, Dannevnkc, Napier, Palmerston North, \\ anganui, and at each place a couicrcnee had been held, and certain claims agreed to. Mr. Kellow, on behalf of tho employers, saul that tho Wellington master bakers had not appeared before the ISoaru at all at tile country places, ami the country cases were not now m question The Court was asked t ? v d f rtl . '\' T lt }}. the dispute only as it a fleeted Wellington and suburbs. Mr. Kellow said that the only difference m the counter-claim, in respect of u ages asked, was a reduction of 2s 6d oil the minimum in all classes of work. He also churned that tho employers shou.d be allowed to do any part of the work in the bakehouse when they wished. Ho objected to tho extra holiday claimed for the picnic. On the question of Bermalino and milk oread, it was agreed to keep theso out ol the award, so long as fermentation was not used. In stating the case for the union, Mr. " cstbrooke said that it had been a standing grievance with bakers that they had to work longer and more inconvenient hours than any other class. It registration of the union was cancelled they would come under the I* actories Act, and would get eight a- day, and the men could also demand tho wages they are at present getting and more. He contended that even if the result of conceding their demands was a slight increase in the price of bread, tho public would rather pay than sec the workers sweated. » The Court will sit in the country districts to hear further evidence.

MISUNDERSTANDING AT WANGANUI. Press Association. WANGANUI, March 24. A number of employers, cited to

anneav at the Arbitration Court hero ?£sl av were considerably inconyemencetl and annoyed to find that there was no sitting of the Court. One employer had journeyed o 0 miles, necessitating the loss of two days, and being put to considerable expense. No official intimation of any kind had been sent to the parties cited about a postponement of tlio Court.