THE LABOUR LAWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10107, 5 August 1898, Page 3

THE LABOUR LAWS.

(press association telegrams.) WELLINGTON, August 4. The bakers are discontented at the action of one employer in setting his men to work at 3 a.m., aa hour earlier than usual, and intend to test the matter in the law courts. WESTPORT, August 3. Before a bench of justices in a case Denniston Miners Union v. Westport Coal Company, an information for a breach of the agreement made under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, the company was fined £5 Is without costs. An appeal will be made to the District Court. ; The Union claimed that " all coal" worked should be "cavilled" for, whereas a section of the mine was worked by machines, and was excluded from " cavil." The Company's defence was that it was impossible to " cavil" machines, and that "all coal" only applied to coal worked by manual labour. Mr Stratford, S.M., refused to bear the case, as'he was a shareholder in the Westport Coal Company. DUNEDIN, August 4. At the Police Court to-day James Nesbltt, carrying on business as a painter, was charged with a breach of the industrial agreement by employing a person who was not a member of the Painters Union, or any other properly-constituted union of painters. The contention for the defence was that the person complained of had been employed before the agreement was signed, and that he was under engagement till February next. Mr Carew, S.M., thought it likely that Nesbit, when signing the agreement, believed he would be able to keep the man working. As it was the first case of the kind, defendant would be fined £1 and costs. For employing a man after 2.30 o'clock on a half-holiday, John Fleming was fined 20s and costs 50s. A charge against the licensee of the Commercial Hotel of employing a barmaid after 11 p.m., was dismissed as the licensee did not know the girl bad gone back into the bar after it had been closed up.