ABITRATION COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 148, 17 March 1908, Page 9

ABITRATION COURT.

YESTERDAY'S' BUSINESS,

ENFORCEMENT OF AWARDS,

Tho Arbitration. Court commenced its sittings nt Wellington yesterday morning, Judge Sim t and Messrs. S. Brown (employers' representative) and J. A. M'Cullough (workers' ( representative) taking their.seats at 10.30 o'clock. Mr. Le Cren, Inspector of Awards, appeared for the Labour Department.

i'ho following futures for tho hearing of disputes were made Wellington Wharf Labourers', Thursday,. March 19, 10.30 a.m.; Bakers', Friday; Seamen's (Ferries), Tuesday, March 24'; Wellington Pullers', ■Wednesday, March 25; Drivers', Thursday, March 2G; Electrical Workers' and Gas Stokers', Friday, March 27. i In the oase of the Electrical' Workers' dispute, the hearing of which was fixed for Thursday, Mr. Reunion, on behalf of tho Union, stated. that there was a. possibility of a settlement being arrived at between ■ tho parties on the lines ,of tho Dunedin award. A conference will accordingly bo held'in the interval.

. , BUTCHERS' AWARD. •' . The Levin Meat Company . were charged with having committed a breach of the preference clause of tho Butchers'' award- in keeping a non-Unionist' named John H. Brown in their employ for nearl.y 12 months. On behalf of it was submitted that tho employee had promised moro than once to a member of the Union, and was ultimately dismissed ■,because.' ho did not do so, The Court, which inflicted a fine of £5, stated'that .defendants had deliberately continued , the breach after their attention had been drawn to it. drivers' award. G.' If. Rowel, ■ Pet-one,| was proceeded against on a charge of having employed Ed. C. Toohey as' a ■ driver' at less tlian tho rate prescribed by tho Driver's' award. On behalf of defendant, jfc. was stated that tho employee in question worked 37 hours ' a week for defendant for £1 per week and found. During the rest ; of the week tho employee worked for the-Gear Meat Company. ...Defendant/in evidonco,'said that ho had. not sufficient work to keep a driver working full. time. - Tho'Court stated that, nptinthstanding a warning from-tho Socrctary. of..the Union; respondent had continued tho-:-breafch. ?■: A fine of £•> would -be imposed. In the case of the employee, ho would bo fined 10s. for having accepted ( less than tho award rate ■ of- .wages. :

■ -James Johnston was churned with a breach of tho' Wellington Drivers' Supplementary Award cab-drivers),, in employing non-Unionists. Mr! Grenfell. 'for the respondent, ' admitted tho breach, and stated that tho drivers . concerned , were employed for driving doctors, who also had 'a say'in tho'choice of the men;. . Inspector Le Cren said ho believed the doctors Were frequently not consulted.. A flno of £5 was''-imposed'. ' , BUILDERS' LABOURERS' AWARD.' ■ W.- Day, of 31 Hansen Street, admitted having omploycd Alfred. .Pearco, . a non- , Unionist; Respondent statedthat h«'rr aTO .the-employe© tlie fee, to enable him to join tho Union.- The .Court fined respondent £2 and'costs'.' ! v ■ 'iSton,.-• "Vfolliiigton, was ' charged, .with 'HaViifgViinployod--a non-Unibriisthnraed Sidney Huxley, in breach of tho award of tho Wellington, ; Labourers' Union. A. fino ,of £2 with costs was. imposed. , ; Tho..; Neuohatel. Asphalt Company ' was charged, at' the instance -of. the;, inspector, with a broach of the preference clatise. A broach,.'was recorded, and respondent ordered- to pay costs.. The President said that tho- firm did not; ordinarily-come under, tho award, but tho particular -class of work conc.qtnbd masii under tho award;' Respondents,.hating- I "discovered ,this, sought to; induce tho itwo .employees to join tho Union,-,but without suc'iSei's.

PAINTERS' AN'p DECORATORS* AWARD.

"Alfred 'Palmorj Ivaiwarra, was-charged by _tho- Inspector with haying- an linindentured "apprcritico for, twelve months, in broach of tho',; Painters' -and.'Decorators' .award; A .fme'. of \£s.-and'-cbats' was 'inflicted..* BAKERS' AWARD..' , ' Joseph Turnor, who'was charged with employing a non-Unionist, said the man joined tho: Union tho day after ,ho began to' work for, '.him. ~ A • breach of; tho bakers'award was recorded.