ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12960, 13 November 1907, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

t . (FUSS ASSOCIATION TZLEGKAM.) WELLINGTON, November 12. The Arbitration Court to-day heard the dispute between the employers and the Plasterers' Union. Prior to proceeding with the dispute proper, some discussion took placo on the area to which the' Court's award should apply. His Honour Mr Justice Sim said: the present award extended for a radius of fifteen milt* outskie of Wellington. It seemed to. him that at the present stage the Court could cot make the now award on wider lines. Mr Westbrooke, for the Union, wanted the award to apply over tie whole industrial district, stating that in NiJpier the cost of living was as high as in Wellington. Mr S. Brown remarked that it was even said by a man-in Nelson that that was the dearest plaoe in the colony. After further discussion, the suggestion of his Honour to take the limited award with respect to Wellington at the present sitting, and deter tho country dispute to the next sitting of the Court was agreed to by Mr Westbrooke. Mr Grenfell then addressed the Court for the employers. They asked that , provision be made for improvers, and that tho term of apprenticeship be made seven years. With regard to wages, they asked that the payment bo Is 7d per hour, or one-fifth of a penny lees than the present rate. Tho employers objected to preference to unionists. After evidence had been given for the employers end workers, his Honour intimated that the Court would give judgment at a later stage.