ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 79, 3 April 1911, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE AUCKLAND STTTING.

The sitting of the Arbitration Court was continued at Auckland this morning under the presidency of Mr. Justice Sim, associated with Messrs W. Scott and J. McCullough, assessors for the employers and workers respectively. GISBORNE EXCLUDED. An objection to being included in the North Auckland Timber Workers' award was lodged by certain builders and sawmillers in the Gisborne district, Mr. Grosvenor appearing for some of the parties, and Mr. Skelton for others. Mr. Phelan represented the Union, and opposed the application for exclusion. On behalf of the applicants it was pointed out that the practice of the Court in the past had been in the direction of excluding Gisborne from the Northern industrial district in every award made; it was asked that the same be done in this case. The Court intimated that there was no reason for departing from the practice laid down by the Court, and although technically Gisborne was a part of the Northern district, it was advisable that for purposes of awards the two should be kept apart. If it was desired to have an award covering workers at Gisborne it would be necessary to originate a dispute against the employers there. Tiie Court decided to strike out all Gisborne parties and to limit the award to the Northern district. SUPPLYING 111LK TO NEIGHBOURS. Application was made to add a considerable number of milk .vendors and retailers to the Auckland dairy employees' award. Mr. Rosser stated that the Union was taking action on the suggestion of the Milk Vendors' Association, which was not a registered organisation. It was the desire of the Association that the parties cited should be included because they entered into competition, or were likely to do so, with ihe employers bound by the terms of the award. Mr. Grosvenor, for the Association, confirmed the statement, and added that the parties cited were the ownew of registered dairies and could enter into the retail business in competition with otfaert* at any time without risk of fine for a breach of the award. Mr. V. H. Leonard objected on the ground that he disposed of his surplus milk to a milk vendor and was not himself a retailer. Mr. Joseph Wilson claimed also that he did not enter into competition .with retailers, and supplied only a small quantity of milk to neighbours, delivering it himself or by an aged man who lived with him. Mr Scott remarked that it could hardly have been the intention to exclude boys deEvering milk to neighbours in small quantities. Mr. Rosser stated that the award was the final settlement of the dispute, and no provision was made for 'boy labour. The employers did not make any advances in the direction, and in point of fact the bigger employers discountenanced boy labour. Mr. Scott: Tα send a boy or old man out with milk in small quantities to a few neighbours could hardly 'be called retailing, though strictly, speaking it was. Mr. Rosser remarked that 'boys could be employed at a few shillings, and the Occupation was not a lit one for boys who had afterwards- to go to school. Mr. Grosvenor pointed out that in many cases milk was delivered by children, and no wages were paid, and that was a thorn in the side of employers bound by the award. The President stated that if the parties cited were added it might have the effect of preventing the eupply of milk to nighbours. He asked if anything could be suggested to prevent unfair "competition with retailers, and at the same time not do eway with the custom qf supplying neighbours with milk in small quantities. Mr. Koßser: That would open up the vexed question of "who is my ii«lghbour?" Mr. Grosvenor said it was not tffe desire to injure anyone, but something wae necessary to stop unfair competition. He would toe prepared to confer with Mr. Rosser and the Association. The case wae adjourned till Friday morning to allow » conference to take place, AN UNUSUAL INTIMATION. An agreeable but unußuftl intimation was made by the workers' representative in connection witii the Gisiboxne and Eaet Coast Shearers' and Woobhed Employees' dispute. When fine case was mentioned the president stated that when a.t Patmerston Nortih repreeentativee of both parties signified tiiedr -willingness to accept an award for shearers on tflie same lines as made in otiher centres, and in regard to shed bands on tiie same terms ac the award the Court was about to make. An award cbvering Shed hands had been made in Wellington, and according to the intimation received, the terms of that award would ajfly to the Gieborne district. Mr. K. J. Morgan, a member of the native race, who is secretary of the Union at Gisborne, stated tihat they were in favour of a Dominion award for shearers, but they did not want an award for shed hands in *he Gjieborne district. The reason far this was that i armers, recognising the eh«l hands were entitled to higher wages than paid in the fast, had voluntarily offered 8/, wihAoh -was now the ruling wage. The workers preferred to accept that without an award. The President: Have you <the autihority of the Federation to say you .don't want an award? Mr. Morgan: I have not. The President thought it advisable for Mr. Morgan to telegraph the secretary of the Federation, Mr. Wardell, on the matter, and remarked that one award' would make no difference in the rate of wages. Mr. Morgan' uaSd the view of the wtorkers was that as the farmers bad offered the advance in wages, an award was not necessary. "We are getting very good wages now, and that is why we don't want an award," 'he added. The case was adjourned to enable a reply being received to a telegram to Mt. Wwdell ac to what view the Federei-, tion took of the intimation.