LABOUR DISPUTES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11097, 16 October 1901, Page 5

LABOUR DISPUTES.

THE UTILITY OF CDNCILIATION BOARDS. (FBSSS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAMS.) AUUJ.vi.AND, October IS. The dispute .between the .Shipwrights* Protection Society and thirteen- employers was dsalt with by the Conciliation Board to-day. In opening the case for the-Union ■Mr Kegan said the main issue w«is that of wage. In other parts of. the colony- the wages were 12s a day. The Union here.de-. mainded 10s for new work and lla 6d for old work. The men. received 10s -a, day, and employers received»l3s fot their "work, while in ■ the south employers got 13s and paid 12a. It was asked that the men receive an extra shilling per day for dirty work. Mr Ranson, in a letter on behalf of the Northern Steamship Company and other employers cited t stated.that it appeared that the hearing before a Board of Conciliation very frequently ended in an. appeal to the Court of Arbitration. Hβ submitted that it „-• would be to the interests of all parties if the diSpute were referred direct to the Court of Arbitration. Should the Board decide to continue the hearing he intimated -that •he did. not propose to call evidence until the Arbitration Court <woa reached. Mr Alison, a member of the Board,, regretted that employers could not see- theii way to accept any decision of the Board. The attitude taken up' by the employers would mean that the Board would Bβ set entirely aside. Mr Hanson read a letter from an M.fi.Ry stating that the amendment to the ActJ which included a clause for sending disputes direct to the Arbitration Court, had passed the House in two, stages. Mr Allison said this had not yet become law, and it was understood the clause would be opposed by the Premier. > iMr Began opposed the application of Mr Kanson. * The chairman said the Board woiild have to make a recommendation in the dark, and would have no assistance in the finding the; were bound to_ bring in. After further discussion, Mr Hanson, said, if necessary he would.go on with the dispute, but did not care to bring his men into Court unless it was absolutely necessary. Mr Alison asked, if the employers would not call evidence, would they make statements? The various clauses were then considered, and the chairman.'lannounced'tue award wouW be mtade to-morrow. (PKESS ASSOCIATION TPXEGEAM.) WELLINGTON, October 15. The Arbitration Court to-day • concluded the hearing of the Wtiarf Labourers' dispute. During the proceedings Mr C. Cross, representing the Shipping Companies, quoted' from tables showing the extent to which during the recent months ocean-goingyesaels had left our shores short of cargo. He preserated a return to the Court showing in detail the amount of shortages: The Shire liner Eifeshire had kft with 4QOO tons less ' than she could foave carried. ~ The Shaw Savill's Waiwera, Lad 500 tons lessjthan her capacity, and the New Zealand Shipping Company's Rimutaka and Wakanui 4000 and 300 tons respectively. The shortages , of four of the Tyser liners were: —llimiro 2300-tons, Star of New Zealand 450,.Tomoana 1500, and Indragtari 800. Tbefce eight vessels left with an aggregate shortage of 13,850 tons. Mr Cross further stated that the Star of Australia had to go to Aus- , tralia for cargo, and seven other direct ser- • vice boats were laid up in. New Zealand waters waiting for cargo.