ARBITRATION COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9104, 25 March 1908, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

Press Association. Wellington, March 24

The hearing of the Bakers’ dispute began at the Arbitration Court to-day. In the case the Conciliation Board had made a recommendation, which the employers declined to accept. It provided for a week of 48 hours, the time of commencing to be not earlier than 4 a.m., save on days following one or two holidays, when the hour should be 3 a.m. or 3 a.m., according to circumstances. Among other provisions of the recommendation were wages—Foreman £3 5s per week ; any man, save foreman working men, £3; others, £3 10s; jobbers, 11s per day. All employees to receive day pay. When the employer himself is substantially engaged in the bakehouse he shall not commence work earlier than the hour mentioned, shall attend to his own oven, set the ferments, and take an equal share in the sponging. Mr Wesfcbrooke, for the men’s Union, pointed out that in the country districts where the Conciliation Board bad sat the Master Bakers were fully represented—at Masterton, Daunovirke, Napier, Palmerston North, Wanganui and at each place a conference had been held and certain claims agreed to. Mr Kellow, on behalf of the employers,'said the Wellington Master Bakers had not appeared before the Board at all at these country places; country cases were not now in question. The Court was asked to deal 1 with the dispute only as it affected Wellington and suburbs. Mr Kellow said the only difference in the counter claim in respect of wages was that they asked for a reduction of 2s 6d on the minimum on all classes of work, and also claimed that an employer should be allowed to do any part of the work in the bakehouse he wished. They objected to the extra holiday claimed for the picnic. On the question of bermaliue and milk bread it was .agreed to keep these out of the award so long as fermentation was not used.

lu stating the case for the Union, Mr Westbrboke said it had been a standing grievance with the bakers that they had to work longer honrs than any other class. If the registration of the Union was cancelled they would come under the Factories Act and would get eight hours a day. The men could also demand the wages they were at present getting and more. He contended that even if the result of conceding the demands was a slight increase in the price of bread, the public would rather pay than see the workers sweated.

The Court will sit in the country districts to hear further evidence.