ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1902, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

The hearing of evidence in connection with the bakers' section of the carters' dispute was continued on Friday and Saturday before His Honor Mr Justice Cooper and Messrs R. Slater and S. Brown.

William Quedley, in his evidence, stated that his work took him from 6.30 a.m. until 6.30 p.m., and he was paid 35/ per week. He advocated the payment of overtime to prevent the system of sending men out after hours. In his estimation 30/ was a reasonable wage for a youth, on start-

ing. Mr. Smerdon, addressing the Court on behalf of the master bakers, said that they had been prepared to accept the award of the Conciliation Board, and had had a meeting to consider the award, but the parties concerned could not agree. The question was subsequent^ submitted to a committee, who had drawn up new proposals, which followed the Conciliation Board award very closely. They wanted 48 hours to constitute a week's work, the employers to fix the hours for starting; no carter to have more than one hour for dinner. They had carefully considered the matter of the minimum wage, and thought £2 was ample for a competent carter. They were of opinion that the Court should determine a certain age and wage for youths, the master to decide as to competency. There were small bakers with small and scattered rounds who were compelled to employ youths. As to overtime, they would agree to pay 20 per cent, 'of the man's wages extra as overtime, but no overtime to be paid until the carter had been a month on the road. Preference to unionists not to be shown.

Mr. Barton deposed that he was a baker and confectioner. He employed nine carters, of # whom the most competent was paid £2 2/6, with bread, the lowest received £2 per week. It was quite impossible to definitely fix the time of beginning work. He was most emphatically of opinion that a master should have the option of selecting his men, without preference to unionists. Archibald Kent, cross-examined by Mr. Way, said the question of raising the price of bread had not, so far as he knew, ever been mooted among the master bakers. The Court then adjourned until half-past ten o'clock this morning. When the Court resumed on Saturday additional evidence was given on behalf of the master bakers by Messrs. Smerdon, Gardner, Parsons, and Johnston to show that in view of the rise in price of flour, if the demand? of the Union were conceded it would necessitate a rise in the price of bread. This concluded the evidence in connection with the bakers' carters Mr Templer then < proceeded to call evidence in the sawmillers' carters' section, which was the last section of the carters' dispute. Mr White, who represented the Kauri Timber Company, Limited, and the Sawmillers' Association, submitted documents containing details of the number of carters employed by the several sawmill companies, and the rate of wage received by each The. carters employed by the Kauri Timber Company worked about the same length of hours as the mill hands. Air Hotchin also gave evidence in support of the Sawmillers' Association, and Mr Davis gave evidence for the Union. This concluded the cvi dence in the dispute, which was adjourned sine die, twenty-four hours' notice 'to be given either side of the time when the consideration of the case would be resumed.