ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 4 May 1907, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

Per Press Association. Auckland, Jliiv 8. _ Tiie hearing of the charge against the Electric Tramways Company of breach of award in connection with the late strike was resumed this afternoon. For the defence, .Mr. Hansen, managing director of the company, stated Unit prior to the trouble in November last, he had never received any notification from the men that they did not consider it their duty to teach learners. The President said the Court was satisfied that it was part of the luty of nmtonncn and conductors to teach learners. Charles Francis Alexander, traffic manager for (lie Dtmcdin tramways, said that if he had received such a letter as that received by Mr. Hansen he would have got the men into his office, and if they refused to go on teaching learners he would have dismissed them. This closed the evidence.

Mr. Cotter, in addressing the Court for the defence, urged that there had been cause for dismissal. The gravity of the case, lay in the fact tliat the men acted in a body, unci not individually. Had men on a vessel at sea done a similar thing, it would have been regarded as mutiny. Unless employers had the right of dismissal in such cases, tlicy would be powerless. The Hon. Mr. Tolc will address the Court to-morrow morning. The ease against the men will be taken on Monday.

At (he Arbitration Courl. the electric tramways dispute was adjourned till Tuesday next, after several witnesses on behalf of the Union had been examined.