ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11547, 1 April 1903, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE TAILORS' DISPUTE.

The Arbitration Court resumed yesterday morning, when the hearing of the dispute in the tailoring trade was continued. Messrs E. Gohns and 0. , J. Wihiteman appeaavd for the Union, and Messrs F. W. Hobbs, J. Mitchell, and A. W. Bain for the employers. Furtherevidence, on behalf of the claims of the Union, was given by Ernest Jones, Oharle* Kater, Jamee Hunter. Further evidence, on behalf of the Union, was given by Messrs C. Moon, J. Cragg, E. Gohns, H. Hodges, and J. N. Tutton. The employers asked the Court to award, without alteration, the time statement and conditions of labour embodied in the award delivered by the Court in November last. This statement, and conditions therein contained, had been adopted by the New Zealand Federated Master Tailors' Association, with the object of getting them awarded as a standard for the colony. The proposed conditions of labour for tailoresses, drawn up by the employers, provided for the payment of piece workers at the rate of 8d per hour, and for weekly hands at the rate of £1 5e per week. The number of apprentices should be limited to one in three operatives, und the rates of pay for apprentices should range from 5s during the first year to 14s during the fourth year. improvers could be employed at not less than 17s 6d per week, and" overtime should be paid for at the rate of lOd per hour to weekly hands, and 2d per hour to piece workers in addition to the piece work rates. Evidence wag then given on. behalf of the employers. George Fletcher, master iailor, gave evidence that tlie present minimum wage if £2 15s weekly wae a fair one. None of his men (had ■complained at ttiaving to work forty-eight hours per week. Hβ had never heard of payment for waiting time before. The suggested rates of payment for apprentices w«re, in his opinion, quite fair and reasonable. He- himself would not be bothered with apprentices. Thomas Kerr, cutter, employed by Strange and Co., stated that he had never experienced l any difficulty by reason of the men and' women arriving at different timos. As a rule female workers left the trade aivi about, twenty-five years. He> found difficulty in obtaining female coat hands. He saw ni justification for raking the minimum for a |.veekly man. from £2 15s to £3. Edvfj<rd Evans, cutter, employed by the Farnu'.-s , Association, gave evidence tlhat he had found! great difficulty in procuring female hands. The ■proportion of female apprentices should be increased. Arthur Newman also gave evidence. The Court then adjourned until ten this morning.