ARBITRATION COURT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 13 November 1907, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT

Wellington, Last Night. The Arbitration Court to-day heard a dispute between the employers and the Plasterers' Union, Prior to proceeding with the dispute proper, some discussion took place on the area to which the Court's award should apply. His Honor Mr. Justice Sim said the present award extended or a radius of fifteen milea outside 0/ Wellington, and it seemed to him, at the present stage, that the Court ;ould not make a new award on wider lines. Mr. Westbrooke, for the union, wanted the award fo apply over the whole industrial district, stating that in Napier the cost of living was as high as in Wellington. Mr. Brown remarked that it was 'even said by a man in Nelson that that was the dearest place in the colony. After further discussion, the suggestion of' His Honor to make a

limited award with respect to Wellington at the present silting and.defer the country dispute to the next sitting of the Court was agreed to by Mr. Westbrooke. Mr. Grinfell then addressed the Court for the employers.- They asked P r ° v !f>" V made for improvew, and that the term of apprenticeship be made seven years. With regard to wages, they asked that payment b"e s 7d per hour, or one-flTth of a penny less than the present rate. The employers objected to preference to unionists. After evidence had been given for the employers and workers, His Honor intimated that the Court would give judgment at a later stage. The Gear Meat Company and W. J, Helyer were granted exemption from an award on condition that not less than award rates were paid for casual labor. An application for exemption by the Carrara Ceiling Company on the ground that the work done by the company is not plasterers' work wag held over for the present.