ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 15 November 1907, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. When the Arbitration Court met today it was stated that the conference had failed to make an amicable agreement in the cooks and waiters'dispute. It was arranged that th£ Court shall hear the dispute to-morrow. Mr. Pryor, for the employers, said he had been told that the union intended calling a great number of witnesses whose absence from employment to attend the Court threatened serious inconvenience. Mr. Carey, for the union, said it was intended to minimise inconvenience as far as possible. Mr. Justice Sim said success did not depend on the number of witnesses called, but on the force of their arguments. '

The Court proceeded to bear the dispute between the Butchers' Union and their employers. The union asked for "dry" pay instead of so much per week and found. The wages asked for represented an increase all round of five shillings per week. This rise was asked because of the increase in the cost of living.

Mr. Brown asked if "dry" pay included meat." Mr. Cooper said the men asked for 5s worth of meat, but were willing to accept 5s ip, casli.4)jistead. The union also asked for a reduction of hours from 50 to 50 per weeh.'

Five witnesses gave eyidejjee 01) behalf, of the union's claims, aind two on behalf of the country employers. Mr. Grenfell, for the employers, said the first shopmen were now receiving equal to £3 les per week, while the lowest-paid adults, except drivers-out, got equal to £2 Ills. The employers asked that the first shopmen should receive £3, second £2 10s, small goods men £2 15s, general bands £2 Is, and riders-out, it over 21 years of age, £1 2s fid. They also wanted an allowance of 5s worth of meat to apply only to married men. Fifty-six hours weekly were necessary to carry on this business. The employers objected strongly to preference to unionists. Five witnesses were heard, and His Honor intimated that further hearing of the case would be taken at Napier and Palmerston, commencing at Rsdmerston on 22nd insjt.