ARBITRATION COURT

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 69, 21 March 1916, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT

— ■ ■■«■■" ■—— SITTINGS IN HAMILTON. HAMILTON, this day. The Arbitration Court, under the presidency of Mr. Justice Stringer, with Messrs. Scott and McCullough as assessors, sat yesterday and to-day. The first case taken was that of the Auckland motor car and horse-drivers. Mr. Wright, secretary of the Auckland Employers' -Association, said exemption of certain local bodies had not been agreed upon before the Conciliation Council, and he asked that the Hamilton, Frankton, Cambridge, and Te Awamutu boroughs, and Waipa and Piako County Councils be excluded. The county councils had also been cited in the contractors' labourers' dispute. Hamilton had no drivers, while Cambridge and Frankton had one each. It was probable if the Court upheld the objection a local body award would be set up for the district. , Mr. Davis, the Union representative, 1 agreed to the exclusion of Hamilton, but opposed the others. Local bodies. might be willing to make an agreement! now, but the time might conic when they would not be so. and the men would be j left out of any award. I The judge suggested that' the matter should stand over till the next sitting of the Court, and if arrangements were not made the local bodies could then be cited or a clause could be inserted bringing them automatically under the award, if arrangements were not made by a certain date the Court would make suitable arrangements. The representatives stated that as the matter was a Dominion dispute they would call all evidence at Auckland. In the Auckland grocers' assistants and drivers' dispute, Mr. Wright appeared for the employers and Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Mortcnsen, secretary of the Auckland Union, for the union. Mr. McKenzie said the increased demands were being made owing to the increase in the cost of living. In reply to his Honor, Mr. Wright said the employers were not prepared to accept the Auckland award, which might be suitable to Hamilton, but not, to the smaller country stores. j His Honor Baid he thought the proper course was to assume that the Auckland award would apply, leaving the onus of showing to what places it should not be extended on the employers. Evidence was taken in each of the disputes, and the decisions of the Court reserved.•