ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 77, 2 April 1902, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE TAILORESSES' DISPUTE.

POSITION OP THE AUCKLAND

UNION,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday

The hearing of the tailoresses' dis-i pute was continued to-day by the Arbitration Court. A considerable portion of the time of the Court was taken up in the hearing of technical evidence concerning the different methods of ma.mxfacture adopted in the North and South. The Hon. W. Jennings. M.L.C.. president of the Auckland Tailoresses' Union, made au application to be heard on behalf of the Northern Union. A number of misstatements had, he said, been made, both at the present and the Dnnedija sittings, and he would like to refute those misstatements. He said that for a number of years an attempt had been made by the Southern tailoresses to get a national industrial award. The Dunr-din Union hud sent an organiser to form a Union in Auckland, aud some ?,0? or 400 girls joined, but afterwards the girls took very little interest in the Union. The Auckland girls were strongly averse to a universal log, but they worked under a log which was similar in many respects to that worked under in the South. He emphatically denied the statements made before the Court and in Parliament, that there had been no log in existence in Auckland. The Northern Union had acted all through since 1597 in accordance with industrial law. The tailoresses of Auckland were as honest and honourable a lot of girls as were to be found in any part of the colony. The Auckland Union now had a membership of over 200. He denied that any intimidation was practised towards the girls in the Auckland factories; iv fact, he had time and again been given permission to visit the factories and address the girls in favour of their joiunigtheUnion. Onestrong-objection Auckland had to joining the Tailoresses' Federation was because the Federation had a rule which provided for strikes and locks out. Under our industrial law there was no need for such a rule. The Auckland Union intended to apply at once for a two years' renewal of the existing agreement. During a discussion which took place at this stage it was suggested that the Government should make an interim award, but the President said this .cpuld not be done unless all parties agreed. The case stands adjourned until tomorrow.