ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11548, 2 April 1903, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE TAILORS' DISPUTE.

The Arbitration Court resumed yesterday, when further evidence was In.ard in the tailoring dispute. Air Cit.-sv.vll said thai Ballairtyne and Co. employed between 80 tind 90 in the. tailoring department. A tutoress averaged about eight yeais at the trade. It was only fair to tltt trade that the unrnber of female apprentices should be increased. The proposed niiniinum rate for tailoresses of 32s 6d was excessive, for a girl never seriously set to work until she had passed the marrying age. Ho considered £2 15s a fair minimum for men, and 48 hours was a reasonable week's work. J. Mitchell gave evidence that. 97 hands were employed in Strange and Co.'s clothing department. His hands seemr-el satisfied with tlw prt'M'nt conditions, and he had Ik anl no demand i«>r the reduction of h .tats from 48 to 45. When tho Court resumed after the h.r.'hw.. adjournment, I'm H-'iuour sir.ted that- flic liienib.rs !:..! r._ni:r-. - d a "'chart mi:*' mibr.iltr.d by Mr H-. .\r>. of the K-iiapoi Woollen Company. The m._ks placed oti the suit weie. suiiicient to show tli.it the were fact li.iv made, and provide! i-well marks were continued, it would he imnece-sary io bring the- factory und.-r any award mad-e ill the- tailors' case. A claui-ic would be ins.-ned in the award directing the marking of factory-made "chart, suits" „s factory made, «.nd the factories cited- would be discharged from the tailoring dispute. After the evidence had concluded. Mr Hobbs briefly addressed the Court on behalf of tlit- employers. Mr Gohns intimated that he would deliver hit. address after the Court had taketho Ashburton and Timaru evidence. Tlie Court will sit at Ashburton on Saturday at one o'clock, and at Timaru on the following Monday, at 3 o'clock. The tinsmiths' case will come before tho Court at 10 o'clock this morning.