ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 256, 26 October 1907, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE CURRIERS' DISPUTE.

The further hearing of the currier's dispute was concluded at the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon before Mr Justice Sim and Messrs K. Slator and S. Brown. -Mr A. Creamer, with Mr K. F. Way, appeared for the union, and Mr C. Grosvenor, with Messrs R. D. Warnock and J. Astley, represented the employers. In support of the employers' counter proposals Mr Astley said, as regards the reduction in hours of work asked for by the men, that 207 men were working m the trade 48 hours. Of that number only 22 were curriers. On that ground alone, he claimed that, as the curriers were so much in the minority,- that the hours should not be disturbed. Any alteration would create friction amongst the other employees. As regards the increased wages asked for, the trade could not at the present time stand any increase. Already they we/c hard put to it to compete with imported goods, and'he asked that; if they were unable to export, that any award made should be such as not to debar them from competing in the local market. It had been stated, in support of the union's de-, mands, that the price.of leather had increased. That was correct, but the price of hides in New Zealand had increased something like a hundred per cent. The increased price of the finished article was necessitated by the enormous rise in raw material. If the cost of. their production was increased by a higher rate of wages, the trade would be. imperilled. The increase in wages asked for by the men amounted to 20 per cent, which would affect the price of leather to such an extent that it would probably bring a lot. of cheap stuff here with which, they could not compete. In offering lA per hour, they were offering the outside price that the industry could stand. He asked that in fixing the' minimem wage the Court would fix it at so much per hour and not weekly. There were certain portions of the work that could be done equally well by labouring men, and the employers should have a free hand. Throughout New Zealand the employers .were competing in the same market, and Auckland sent goods to Ohristchurch, and vice versa. There should be a. • colonial award, so that all could compete on the same footing. If the Court would not agree to the employment of table hands, then he asked that labourers should be employed in the proportion of one to four curriers. One to eight; as, asked by the men, was totally -inadequate. Evidence; in support of this contention Avas called, .and the decision of the Court was reserved. ■