ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 257, 28 March 1914, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

PLUMBERS, NOT NAVVIES. Ky Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Friday. Mr. Justice Stringer, in tlie Arbitration Court, gave his reserved judgment to-day on an application by the Inspector of Awards for an interpretation of clause 9 of the Wellington plumbers' and gasfitters' award. The clause reads that every employer who engages an assistant shall be deemed to have undertaken the duty of teaching him the trade, which duty shall be enforced under the award. The question asked by the inspector was: "Is it competent for an employer to employ a plumber's apprentice at excavation work in connection with drainage?" ■-•J"(.')^si The Judge's award was: "It is not competent for the employer to so employ an apprentice at drainage work beyond the outside wall of the 4milding from which the drainage connection is being made. | This applies to the Wellington award, and practically to the Dominion."

IRONMASTERS DISSATISFIED. Wellington, Friday. An award made by the Arbitration Court in the Wellington metal-workers' dispute was condemned at a meeting of local iron workers, considering the evidence given by employers to the Court as to the shrinkage of trade and tlie fact that evidence was also given as to a considerable reduction in the number of hands now employed. The employers held that the award given is against the weight of evidence. They also considered that the granting of preference was unwarranted. The employers staled that they recognised the present outlook was anything but encouraging, ami they held that the granting of higher wages lo unskilled workers was suicidal and would prove to be against the interest of the worker himself, as it would assuredly mean a reduction of hands in foundries. Mr. Allen, who represented the employers in the dispute, stated that the advance and improved conditions granted meant roughly an increase of 15 per cent. This he considered will be serious in some cases where structural engineers are working under contracts, the prices for labor upon which they based their quotations being the existing rate.