ARBITRATION COURT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10717, 22 October 1912, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT

A UNION'S DEMANDS. | (B.y Telegraph—l'rcss Association.) 1 KOTORUA, Last Night. The Arbitration Court to-day hoard a demand, by the local branch of the Auckland Hotel and 'Boarding-houso Employees' Union, the principal effect of which was for shorter hours arid increased pay. ! Judge Sim commented on the fact that the demands wore double-barrel- ( led, a"d said that it was ridiculous for a Union to make wild proposals, j jWhen, ho asked, would Unions exercise common-sense in approaching the ■Court, and formulate reasonable demands? The evidence for the Union was chiefly on the question of allowing a half holiday. The Judge stated that it seemed to be proving-breaches 'of the awards, for which the proprietors should have been prosecuted in tho S.M. Court. For the employers it was shown £lint allowing for additional labour, necessitated by shorter ■"hours, the half holiday and an alternate Sunday off, granting tho Union's •'demands would involve an extra expenditure of £IOB2 15s or 75 per cent •on the present wages bill of £6200. Mr Long, counsel for the Union, admitted that the demands were higher than he expected 'to obtain, as t>efore the Conciliation Commissioner it was often necessary to compromise. Mr Scott: "That is reducing the >yhole thing to a farce."