ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 174, 23 July 1909, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

. TAILORS' DISPUTE. The Arbitration Court resumed its sittings this morning. His Honor Mr. Justice Sim, Judge of the Arbitration Court, presided, and with him there were Mr. S. Brown, assessor for the employers, and Mr. J. A. McCullough, assessor for the workers. Mr. Grosvenor for the employers; Mr. Moxham for the Union. Mr. Grosvenor reported that in compliance with the order of the Court a conference was held yesterday, lasting from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., but it had been found impossible to arrive at an agreement. The employers urged that no alteration should be made in the male log. If the Court decided to interfere with the female department, he would ask that a weekly wage be substituted in lieu of the log, which was quite an innovation. Mr. Moxham said the stumbling block was clause 21 of the Wellington award, which provided for a rate of 1/4J per hour. This the Union were prepared to accept in toto, but the employers offered 1/3 per hour. Mr. Grosvenor said the adoption of the Wellington log would mean an impost of 10 to 15 per cent on the employers. The 1/4 A rate might be all right for Wellington but it was too high for Auckland. Mr. Moxham said they had offered to take l/0i for the men instead of 1/2. His Honor: The Wellington award is 1/. We are not going to grant the Wellington rate in one department and a higher rate in the other. It seems to mc that if the parties will only be reasonable, there should be no difficulty in settling the whole thing. His Honor ordered that the negotiations be continued, the result to be reported on Monday. BUTCHERS' AWARD. This was an application to add pork butchers. Mr Grosvenor for the employers, stated that a conference had been held, as a result of which it had been decided to withdraw the application. Leave granted accordingly. SHIPMASTERS' AWARD. This was an application to join the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Mr. Grosvenor, with him Mr. Millar, works manager, for the Companj-j Mr. Nicholson for the Union. This application was made in respect of the tugboat Mahuta. Mr. Millar said the boat was a vessel of 29 tons gross register. The master received £3 10/, and his hours varied from 56 hours a week to 48 hours a weekIf they came under the award that would involve an increase in wage of nearly 50 per cent inclusive of allowance for keep. His Honor said it was not quite clear whether the master must be found or not. The further hearing was adjourned until the next bitting of the Court. AUCKLAND SEAMEN'S AWARD. "~ This was an application to join the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in respect of the ship FionaMr. Millar for the Company; Mr Kneen for the Union. Mr. Kneen said he understood that the Company offered no objection to the application. Mr. Miller said he concurred. He understood that they would only be affected so far as men taken on in Auckland were concerned, and that the award would not extend to the Company's lighters. Mr- Kneen: Oh, no! The application was granted. BREACHES OF AWARDS. Inspector of Awards (Mr Lelwyn Mays) v. the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr McVeagh). Mr McVeagh said this cose would be covered by the judgment of the Court of Appeal as to whether Harbour Boards came under the jurisdiction of the Court. The case was one for interpretation. He suggested that the hearing should be adjourned until after the decision or! the Court of Appeal had been received. Mr Ma 3's concurred and stated that the facts were not in dispute. The case was adjourned until the next sitting of the Court. Inspector of Awards v. Kempthorne Prosser and Co. (Mr journed until next sitting of the Coim •by consent. Tlie Court adjourned until 10 to-mor-row.

A general meeting of builders and contractors was held this afternoon at the office of tbe Auckland Builders' Association, Victoria Arcade, to consider the acceptance or rejection of the wages clause in the recent Christchurch award, as regards the demands of the Auckland Labourers' Union. Some 20 were present to discuss the proposals. The proceedings were conducted privately.

Remarkably good value in gent.'s sample woven underwear; see special table. — Srnifb. and C\ughey's great fair.—