ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

LOSS OF AN EYE. In the case of a claim for compensation for the loss of an eye (Michael Rosandick against the Public Works Department), reported in yesterday's " Star," the Court gave judgment for the plaintiff. Rosandick was awarded £52 14/6 for the period of total incapacity, and the amount allowed by schedule for the loss of the left eye, to be agreed upon by the parties. BLAKE V. U.S.S. COMPANY. The case of E. L. Blake (Mr. Holmden) against the U.S.S. Co. (Mr. Bagnall), which wae heard in October last was again referred to. Decision was reserved. LICENSED HOTELS DISPUTE. The Auckland County and Rotorua licensed hotels employees' claims were under review. Mr. A. Jackson appeared •for the unions, Mr. J. Pagni for the Licensed Victuallers' Association, and Mr. S. E. Wright for the proprietors of residential houses. Mr. Jackson indicated willingness to accept the Wellington award, filed this week, with certain reservations. He raked that the dinner interval for barmen be extended from half an noun to an hour.

Mr Pagni spoke of the depressed condition of the trade, and said that was the reason for appealing to the Court instead of settling the dispute in conference, as in the past. The public had been under a wrong impression that the trade was making huge profits and had no right to pass increases on to them. But the trade was "between the devil and the deep sea," for if the hotel keeper passes on the increased cost to the public it would be reflected at the next licensing poll, while If he does not pass it on he will have to face financial disaster. Hours had been reduced, wages increased, and in the same period the prices of wine, spirits and other liquors had increased from 50 to 3uo per cent, and recently the duty on spirits had been increased 100 per cent, whereas the hotelkeeper had only passed on to the public 85 per cent over the Ibar. and an increase of from 35 to 45 per cent on the tariff. Mr. Wright said that wages and conditions in hotels were reflected in boardinghouses aud even in private hotels. If wages were increased tariffs would have to lie increased. The employees were particularly'well off, with the cost of food - and accommodation and security of employment, whilst the only expenditure of money was on clothing, the price of which had fallen. He asked the Court to look on the dispute from the point of view of the paying public. THE COURT THANKED. Before the Court closed its sittings Mr. Wright returned thanks for the courtesy extended employers during the year. The Court had given some wise verdicts in a very. trying year. Mr. .1. H. Pagni and Mr. Jackson also congratulated tjic < 'ourt and hoped it would not have" so strenuous a tiimv next year. ■ His Honor Jndgc Frazer expressed the appreciation of the Court for the' good wishes of both employers and employees' representatives. It had been a strenuous year, and probably next year would lie strenuous also, but he was glad they had managed to get through ■without any untoward happenings. The Court was confronted with somewhat serious difficulties, and he was not yet 6tire how they would "pan out." The Court proceeds to Wellington today aud will sit at the capital tomorrow.