A HIGHER BONUS SOUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1918, Page 5

A HIGHER BONUS SOUGHT.

KNOTTY POINT REFERRED TO ARBITRATION COURT. Christchurch, April 22. A somewhat unusual case was before the Conciliation Council to-day. Some time ago a dispute was brought by the Canterbury Timber Yards, Sawmills, and Coalyards Employees' Union, and a complete agreement was come to. The union subsequently requested a higher rato of bonus, but the employers objected to conciliation proceedings, and the union then withdrew the application from the Arbitration Court. The employers' representative applied to have the agreement made into an award, but the court would not agree, the application being out of order. To-day wlien the case was reopened in the Conciliation Council the representative of the union explained that the union had decided to aslc for a higher war bonus, following the granting of such a rate to similar workers in Wellington, after the Christchurch conciliation proceedings. The employers' representative stated that the employers were not prepared to grant a higher war bonus. The matter had been settled and, he thought, should not be reopened. The Commissioner agreed that the employers' contention that when a party to an agreement failed to abide by a decision of responsible men t-He whole function of conciliation would fail. After discussion it was decided to submit the whole anestiou to the Arbitration Court