The Furniture Lock-out.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIV, Issue 327, 23 April 1903, Page 2

The Furniture Lock-out.

* Per Press Association Auckland, April 22. The hearing of the furniture trade dispute was continued at the Arbitration Court to-day. Mr Tole stud it would be idle to dia» cuss the position at common law, as by the law they were considering — the Arbitration Act — the Conrt had the power to say under the circumstances alleged in this ei.se that the men were not tQ \)Q disQiiargea* His Honor asked Mr Tole how long the employer was bound to keep a fully competent man in his employ. Mr Tole replied that under ordinary circumstances an employer was not bound to keep him on at all if he did not want him, but was bound to keep him on at a wage fixed by the court if he wanted tbe man's services. If what had been done in the present circumstances were legal, then the whole Act was useless. The whole thing was a scheme to oust the men from employment and ultimately render the law a dead letter. Mr Martin also addressed the court on behalf of the men, and Mr Ootter replied for the employers. Judgment will be give Don Saturday.