ARBITRATION COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2291, 18 June 1921, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

At a sitting of the Arbitration Court, at Palmerston on Thursday, Mr McKenzie, on behalf of the Employers’ Association, objected to the inclusion of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, the Palmerston North Borough Council, various freezing works, flax mills and dairy companies, and also the Sandon tramline, as parties- to the enginedrivers’ award. The freezing chamber used by the associated butchers of Palmerston North was also entered as rfbt being applicable to the terms and conditions of the award. The Court intimated that as far as the freezing and dairy companies w-ere concerned, it was already familiar with the arguments against their inclusion.

Mr R. T. Bell voiced the objection of the Flaxinillers’ Association to the inclusion of the men employed its stationary engine-drivers at the mills. The employers would prefer that these men should come under the flaxinillers’ award. The other tlaxmill hands had consented to. a reduction in wages, and if the owners found that dairying and pastoral pursuits were more profitable than fiaxmilling, they would resort to farming, and flaxmilling would disappear. Their main objection, however, was to the proposal that employment should he on a daily, basis instead of on a weekly one. Air Read, for the employees, said that the burden was not very heavy, as there was usually, only one man employed in that capacity at each mill. The only exceptions he knew were the mills at Makerua and Whitaunui.

Mr McKenzie urged further that if any one section of the workers received better treatment than others, dissatisfaction would result. The Court reserved its decision on these points.