ARBITRATION COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9065, 4 February 1908, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

From The Dominion, Feb. 1, 1909:The Arbitration Court yesterday delivered its award in the Artificial Flower Workers’ dispute. The President annomfced that wages had been fixed at £lO per week of 16 hours. Loud cries of “No!” greeted him when he asked if that would do. “ Then shall it be £11?” he asked. A small voice in the back of the Court said “Yes,” and its owner was at once hustled out. He turned out to hp, not a blackleg, but an employer who had disguised himself as a worker by the simple expedient of donning a fur overcoat, a silk hat, and patent leather shoes. “At eleven —Gentlemen, will you not agree to eleven? Eleven, eleven— Well, say twelve.” “Twelve will do,” said the Secretary of the Union. “We’ll agree to twelve for the present.” The award was finally arranged and duly signed. In the afternoon, however, the workers struck once more for an increase of £1 a week, price of living had advanced by 50 per cent, since the deliverv ot the award. The Oourc refused” to vary its terms, [ and some sensational reports spread through the city. At 3.30 p.m. a milk-cart dashed at full gallop through the streets, bearing the B emier to the scene of the trouble, and Mr Millar, who had been in a hairdresser’s establishment, arrived half-shaved. A long conference ensued, thegCourt having been sent to wait in the passage. By 5 o’clock the conference was over, the men having agreed to accept £ls per week. The Court was sent for and a new award drawn up. An employer who was found attempting to have a charge laid against the men was arrested. Interviewed subsequently, the Premier said that the men had behaved with the greatest and had exhibited admirable forbearance. He considers that there has been no loss of dignity whatever, for he was very careful not to offend the amour proper of the workers.