ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 22 November 1907, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

Pel' Press Association. Napier, Last Night. At the Arbitration Court to-day fines of £1 were inflicted in two cases of breaches of the coachbuilders' award. An application to have the Wellington award of Ist August, 1907, applied to seventy-seven employers in the Hawkes Bay district was withdrawn by consent, a new dispute to be filed for the next sittings of the Court. An application by the Napier Wharf Laborers' Union for alteration to the existing award was heard. The union asked for increases in the rate of pay of from 10 to 20 per cent., \yith preference to unionists when they are available and capable of doing the tvork. Evidence was given that the cost of living and house-rent had increased, and several workers stated that their earnings averaged but little over £2 per week. For the employers, it was stated that although in some instances the rate of wages was higher before the award than under it, yet since the award came into force, owing to the increase of trade, the men had earned more money. The present system of payment at the port had been in operation for many years, and it was contended that to meet some of the demands of the men would be ruinous to employers. The Court rose till tomorrow,