ARBITRATION COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 157, 27 March 1908, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE. SHORTER HOURS AND HIGHER WAGES CLAIMED. . The Arbitration Court heard ■■ tho dispute between tho Drivers' Union and tho employers yesterday, Judge Sim and Mr. \Y. Pryor (acting-employers' representative)) and Mr. J. A. M'Cullough (workers' representative)'taking their scats at 10.30 o'clock. Mr. Blackie and Mr. Parlano appeared on behalf of the. Union, and Mr. Scott, of Dimcdin, for tho employers. APPLICATION OF THE AWARD. Mr. Blackio stated that an agreement had been mado between the Master Bakers' Association and tho Union, and at the next sittings tho Court would bo asked to convert,the agroemont into ail award. When tho dispute was before the Board of Conciliation, it was, ho stated, agreed'that the Union Steam Ship Company should bo. exempted. • Mr.-Scott hold that-iivtho caso of a large number of shops cited, the employers came under tho Shops and Offices Act, and did not enter ,intO' competition; with tho .parties before the Court. The .employers wished drivers of laundry carts and drivers of slaughter carts exempted. The award should, it was submitted, apply only to carters who carry 011 the business of carting and enter into competition with 0110 another. The employers agreed that if the carters whom it was sought to bo exempted work for hire, thoy should come under tho award. - Mr. Blackie;- ill reply, objected to tho exemptions on tho ground that it was an attempt on the part of tho employers to evade tho payment of overtime.' His Honour said tho matter would bo settlod at a liter stage.'

THE CASE FOR THE UNION. Ml'.-Blackie, in outlining the case for tho Union, stated that, as this was tho first Wellington drivers' dispute that' had come before tho Court as at present lie hoped tho Court would deal with the dispute on its merits and according to the evidence. Judgo Sim: Do you suggest that the Court has dealt with any disputo not. on its merits and according to the ovidence? Mr. Blackie: N6, —— Judg'O Sim : Well, that was a very unfortunate way of-, putting it. Mr. Blackio, continuing, stated that the Union-had arrayed against them all the "big artillery" of the Opposition. The employers jntolldcd to quote the conditions mi<J. rates in other centres, the* Union would not do so. What tho Union desired was that tho Court should give its representatives, who were laymen, every consideration. Turning to tho claims of the' Union ; Mr. Blackio stated ■that tho workers ■ wished, to -bo allowed to discontinuo their duties on t-ho half-holiday at 1,2.15 p.m.,. instead of 12.45 p.m., as at present. ■ In support of their contention, ho might point out , that the, wharves and railways closed at 12 nooii; The Union desired the insertion of a Clause providing that a time-list must bo kept. -At present, it was impossible, in many instances, to investigate casos owing to tho fact that 110 time-book was kept. The-minimum weekly wages claimed in respect of competent'drivers were as follows':' For driving and --attending a single liorso, £2 10s.; for driving and' attending two hoi'ses, £2 145.; for each additional, horso, 4s; per week extra.' Under thO'-'pre-sent 'award, the minimum wagd ill-respect of drivors of h single horScs was £2 55.,-which was not, it Was submitted, a living wago, and 110 additional payment was prescribed in cases whevo the driver had charge of mbro than two, horses. Ho might point out that the Court had'held that additional payment given to drivers of more than one liorso was for extra nttcndancoT. Casual labour/, it was claimed, should 'bo paid for at tho rato of Is./ 3d. per hour, instead' of Is.: 1-kl: per hour, asat present. In support. of their contention, they, would'point out'., that casual wharf labourers received Is. 3d. por/ljour, as, also did men' who were employed to assist in 1 shifting furniture. Overtime, iii was' lield,' should be paid for at tho rato of Is. 6d. per hour, as against Is. in the present , award. At present, workers were called upon to. work overtime at not moro than they : received during their ordinary : time. For, work done on Sundays, Christmas. Day,,and,.Good Friday, 2s. per hour was asked, the sariio rato as at present, and for work done on. other holidays Is.. 6d. per hour, ail increase of 3d. per hour as compared .with the present award. The workers also .desired that, all wages should bo paid ill cash.'

Judge Sim : You have got that right under statute, law"... ...' - ,-

Continuing,!. Mr. Blackie stated'ithat..;-tho, workers, objected to the clause milking iprpjMsion. for boarding. It not infrequently li'ap-' pened • now that employers preferred 1 singlo meii, becitiiso they wanted them to board on tho premises. Great difficulty had beon experienced with' reference to tho question of attendance. • Under . present conditions, tho employers fised What time should be spent in attendance. The . Union held that tho time should be defined'by tho Court. It was claimed that ft -stableman should'bo kept in stables where fifteen horses wero kept. During weeks known as "weeks 011," drivors wero required to Work- 47J hours ordinary time, ■ hours' attendance, and 20} hours overtime—in all 70} hours. Preference was claimed,; and tho' workers. strongly objected to the insertion-of tho provision that tho drivors must bo known to the employers.

EVIDENCE ON BEHALF OF THE UNION.

v ' E. Lo, .Cfon,' .Inspector of Awards, de-> posed that a timo book was necessary in order to onablo alleged breaches, to .be, ii)Vestiguted. " , HOUSE RENT GOING UP..... .. ,W. F. Eggors; laud and estate agent, stated that tho following averagri prices for. houso rent (as- given in tho "Labour Journal ").wero correct: Four rooms, lGs.; fivo rooms, 21s. Gd.; six rooms', 255. Ho. could, honestly state that, relit for houses of three,' four, five, and six rooms had not gono upduring the. past 18 month's. Threo fourroomed houses belonging't-o him on Wallace Street had been let at 18s. per week, and thoy wore not finished-yet. -Ho was tired of answering-applications, for them. In support of his contention 110 submitted tho following instances of increases within the past 15 months:— Princess Torrace, threo rooms and scullery, 12s. to 15s. Adelaide Road, three rooms and scullery, 10s. to 15s. Adelaide Road, 'three rooms and scullery, 9s. to ,13s.- ~ Hanson Street, fivo rooms and conveniences, 15s. to 17s. Hanson Street, six rooms and conveniences, ,17s. to 21s. .. • Boston Terrace, three rooms and conveniences, 13s. to 14s. _ ■ * . Boston Terrace, - six rooms and conveniences, 20s. to 225. 6d. Continuing, witness stated that rents were likely to increase aftor April 1, owing to tho fact that more stringont building provisions would then como into operation. He. could 1 not sen how a man with a family of threo could live on £2 ss. per weok. Cross-examined, witness stated that 110 had had offers of 2s. a week more for tho houses 011 Boston Torrace, but ho would not turn the present' tenants out. Mr.- Scott: Do the same conditions' apply in the suburbs? —Witness: I don't say that thoy obtain rit Island Bay and Miramar. Do you know of instances whore working people occupy houses the rent of which is 225. Gd. ?—Yes. I may also mention that numbers of tenants in 'Wellington sub-lot their houses. In some instances three or four families livo in tho same house; it is simply disgraceful. Have you a driver or a carter in any of the houses you have quoted?—l don't think so.

Can 'you give an instanco of a driver who could not pay his^ont? —Yes. In 0110 caso we had to turn a man out. '

•Was'he a driver at tho time?—No, I think not.. ' , Is it not. a fact that. peoplo_ want better houses nowadays?'— Thoy desiro houses in which there are tubs, a copper, and a bath. They"don't want moro than that;' ' ' ■ Then the standard of liviiig has improved? —Yes-

MINIMUM WAGE TOO LOW.

A. Parlano, driver, in the employ of Fletcher and Co., gave evidence that he uns a married man with a family of two, ana received £2 15s. per week, l'rom November to February the average weekly cost of his household expenses was £2 Bs. 5d., but since, owing to the fact that 110 had been unable to grow his own vegetables, it had increased to £2 10s. 2}d. Ho paid 17s. Gd. for rent, and ho would not care to live in ft hoitso worso than tho 0110 in which lie was residing, and which was situated in Wmglieru Street. ~ Mr.-Scott: Is it a fact that tho exocutivo recommended tho Union that the dispute should not be. brought beforo the Court r— Yes. Thcro had been a lot of criticism 111 tho Press, it being stated, among other things, that the demands were drawn up by paid agitators. I persuaded tho executive to make tho recommendation. Myself and other members of the executive receivo, more than tho minimum rate, and we thought it bettor to settle tho matter without going to tho Court. . . . , Has there bfcen dissatisfaction m regard to tho present award? —Yes. For one thing, tho members are agreed that the minimum rato is too-low. . How did you come to get an increase. I told my employer that I was not receiving enough .to meet expenses, and ho gave .me and others increases. . .' . ' . . . He is.aspiring to political honours, is ho not?—l am not awaro of it._ Judge Sim: When was tlio increase'given? —Over twelve months ago. - • HAVE TO KEEP BOARDERS. Martin Condon, driver at M'Ardle's, deposed that ho was in receipt of £2 ss. per week. Witness was a married man, and had seven • children. Ho rented a six-roonied house, which cost liirn 225. Gd. per week. Two years tho rent was only 20s. per week" In order to make ends meet lie kept boarders, who recently,, owing to- tho increased cost of living, voluntarily agreed to pay 20s. fid. instead of 18s. for- their board. When witness arrived in New Zealand four years ago ho had £100; it f was all gone, oven although he had been in constant work at £2 ss. per week.' Mr. Blackio: Do you go to theatres or Wonderland ?—Witness: I don't liavo the money; in fact, I dou't know where Wonderland is situated. Samuel Lawlor, a driver at M'Ardle's, gavo evidence, that his wage was £2 ss. per week. His employer- had. ten-drivers, all of whom received £2 ss. Witness, who had a family of three,."rented, a four-roomed houso on Broadway Terrace'for 20s. .per week. ■ Tho* houso in which ho had previously resided was let . for 10s. per week two years ago, and was now bringing 14s. Alex. Braid, driver for Munt, Cottrell and Co., 1 deposed that ho was in receipt of £2 7s. Od. per week, out of which he paid 13s. per week as, rent for a four-roomed houso at Brooklyn. During weeks when it had been his " weok on "-ho bad'left home at 4 a.m. and not got homo until 9 p.m. Ho only had • a cold breakfast and cold lunoli oil thiise days. . '. A'. GENEROUS EMPLOYER. ; James Sullivan, driver 111 tho employ of A. . G. Saunders, statod that his employer was tho best ho had seen. Witness'mado £3 ss. per week ill winter and £p per: week in summer. ' His employer had told him that 110 worker could live honestly oil £2 ss. per week, and that he was quito 'willing' to pay tho amount proscribed by the new award: Mr. Scott: Is 'your employer, at daggersdrawn with ot-lior employers in tho Samo line1 ?—lf somo -don't -like him. it is because, lie is too much 'of a gehtlomaii.' If tho other 'employers-worked-.their-men like,llo does the men would bo better off, EVIDENCE OF THE SECRETARY., David Blackie, secretary of tho Union, stated that-tho necessaries of life for his household of fivo persons cost 011 the average £2 Is. 2d. per weok. aivard was mado numbers of workers said they' would ; sooner leave their dmployhVent thanlagreo to :tho clauso. ro attendance. Witness persliaded ! thorn to wait.iintil'a'ri interpretation was ob--' taiiled. Tho interpretation referred to two establishments. Cross-exhm.ined, witness stated that tho Workers did not want the stable work. :• Judgo Sim: Do you mean that they would rabhor decline an opportunity" to t earn extra wages?— They want some timo at their, own homes.: ' 7 -Continuing,witness stated that there wore only 'about half a dozen men oh the employment book at. the present time. 'Numbers of tho 111011 "wore leaving their calling to go to work on tho wharf. Tho cost of llaircutting, shaving, boot repairing, rent, etc., had increased. If tho employers ' did' not- form rings and combinations tho ; men would bt) hotter off. Mr. Scott : If tho wages of all artisans are 'increased'will, ifr'ntit' result in a general in. creasS-of cast of living Yes ; but ■I- say-'that-men : who'-receivo : ss. or.loss' per week dp not livb; t-hey simply exist. Evidence was also, given by- - Robert Bland, driver for Munt, Cottrell "and Co., and-Percy Smith, now a wharf labourer. THE EMPLOYERS' VIEWS. ' ; Mr. Scott, in outlining' tho case for the employers, stated that this was tho twentieth timo on which the Court had beon asked to review the conditions,..in one cent-re-or-another, affecting this calling, Notwithstanding this fact, tho Union was asking tho Court to tear t-o shreds and. tatters tho. last award, which they mado at Wellington. He might mention also that the drivers in Wellington were the best paid in the Dominion; they received. 3s. a week more than tho drivors in Auckland, Canterbury, and Duncdiii. It was his opinion that they received tho extra 3s. only through a misunderstanding. The action "of this and other Unions showed that they did not want arbitration; tlioy simply' desired to use- the Court as a moans' for squeezing the employers: - That sort of thing accounted for il'lo fact that tho Act had in somo quarters been characterised as an instrument of strife and warfaro rather than a measure for the promotion of peaco and goodwill. This was the fourth occasion on which tho Court hail boon asked to overhaul tho provisions affecting the driving trade at Wellington. Ho submitted that the Union had failed : to show that thero had boon an alteration iii tho conditions. Tho,best-paid men in Now Zealand . wore, ill his opinion, tho most dis-" contented. For instanco, the Wellington tramways employees were paid a -shilling per day moro than the tramway - employees 111 other-centres. That increased tho cost of running tho ■ system by £6000 per year. Now they- wcro making fresh demands which would ' increaso tho expenditure by- £7000 or-£BOOO. 'No doubt as the election was coming 011 their request would bo granted as on a former occasion. When tho slaughtermen struck they wore receiving from 20s. to 245., and the llax-millers chose the psychological moment at which to mako their demands. As a result of. the increases in the lattor industry now that tho price of flax had gono down, numbers of tho mills had had to be closed. In • tho North, wliero the wages were high, -t-lio men would not meet their .employers, but in the South, wher'o tho wages wore considerably less, tho men wero willing to confer with .their employers. If tho drivers were entitled to an increase, so were all classes of workers, The question of tho cost of living would lie left to tho Court, which was in the best position cto jud<?o. In somo instances there may have been increases, and in others there had. been - decreases. Although rents wero high to-day. there might bo a burst of tho boom in land at any timo. He observed'that tho Court had not granted an increase in tho cast; of the wharf labourers. If tho Court raised tho. wages every timo t-horo was an increase in tho cost of living, it would only aggravate matters, and finality would never be reached. Tho remission of duty 011 cottons and linen must have been a boon to tho -working classes. If tho proposal that aerated t water manufacturers should not work their men more than 47} hours per week were adopted, it would mean that in summer-time extra hands would have to v be. employed, and in winter most of them would lose their employment. Tho employers did not object to the keeping of a timo book.- Tho claim that 4s. per weok should bo paid for every additional horse was an attempt to forct tip the wages. Tliev wished the Court to retain tho boarding "clause. The Union' had refused, to accept 1111 offer of 7s. Gd. in addition to ordinary rates for attendance in stables whore 15 horses or more'are kept. In other resDeots, with only a few alterations, the em-

ployers agreed to the provisions ill the present award.

T. S. Young, manager of tho New Zealand Express Company, gave evidence that the cost of horse-feed, vehicles, horses, repairs, etc., had increased, and that the margin of profit was smaller now than formerly. Messrs. Munt and Gibbs also gave evidence. His Honour , suggested .thqt the parties should meet in confidence that night with a view of arriving at a. settlement of several matters in dispute. Tho hearing was then adjourned until 9.30 this morning. INTERPRETATIONS... The Arbitration' Court has given the following interpretations :— « Tho Typographical Award, Clause 39:—"A simplex probationer shall 'bo deemed an- effioient operator on his attaining a speed of 5000 ens per hour." ■ Question: Is not tho output of-5000 ens per'.hour tho joint. product. of an operator and justmer working' together at the simplex machine? Answer: Tho output of 5000 ens must be produced by the operator, working in the ordinary way with tho assistance of a justifier. Timbor Yard and Sawmills Award, Clause 1: -For the'purpose of this award, factory means an establishment where, in addition to any work carried oil, sashes and doors aro mado, and includes also box factories and cooperages. Every other establishment coming within-the scope of this award shall be deemed to be a country sawmill." Question: In the case of an employer who has a' factory in a town where sashes and doors aro made, and a branch yard in the same town where timber is sold, but no sashes or doors are manufactured, how is tho branch business to be defined—as a factory or a country sawmill, or should tho two establishments-be classed as one for the purposes of tho award?

Answer: The sash and door factory and tho timber yard should be treated as oiie establishment (or the purposes of tho award.

Cooks' and Stewards' Award, Clause 9:— "When a. vessel arrives in port on a Sunday or a holiday, and sails agam the same day. 'overtime shall bo paid to the 'members of tho providoro department for the time so omployed, not exceeding in. all eight hours, and not less than four hours, at Is. per llollr." :

Question: New Year's Day is a holiday in terms of tho award. The s.s. Ariihura arrived at . and sailed from Nelson on that'day, for wliich-tho Union claims that 3s. per man has accrued under the clause.. Tho samo vessel arrived at and:sailed from - 'Picton, for which tho. Union claims that 4s. has accrued, and tho ■ same 'vessel 'lastly arrived-at and sailed from Wellington on that day, and' tile Union contends that 4s. per man lias acerucd. In the event of the minimum amount claimed by tho Union for. arriving l at-and sailing from each;of the .said ports, as per Clause 9 obtaining, then tho Union-claims that-the maximum of : Bs. for all : ports should obtain. Tho, time in each port would be about an hour. The/ U.S.S. Co. had offered - tho minimum of 4s. as the full amount for the threo ports on the ground that in framing Clause 9 tho jntention of tho Court-was to fix-a minimum and also a maximum payment as.a solatium for the loss-of tho Sunday or holiday in port, and-not to make tllo clause applicable .to each separate, i?ort at which the vessel called on 'tlie Sunday or holiday. Answer: Tho'members of tho providoro partment ; aro not-' entitled to'a Separate payment' in-respect of' eaoh port visited oil tho date in question. _ They did not work more than one hour in each of the three porks, an/1 they are not entitled therefore to tho nimimuni payment fixed by Clause 9, via., foiir 'hours':payf ; If they .had worked moro than four hours in all they W'ottld have boon entitled to payment at tile rate of Is. per hour, but not exceeding eight hours in'all. _ .XCi.fiiiiSfli-SoUOwt v' >iO . FEDERAT.EJI-SEAMEN.'S DISPUTE.

Ati'ARD OF THE COURT.

The following is tho award in the Fed-orated-Seamen!s dispute:— ' . . •

Wages.—Tho following'shair bo the miniuium rates of wages to bo paid to seamen and firemen employed by the'employer, vial— Firemen, £2 15s. per week; .A.8.-, seiimeu, £2. 10s! per week; second deqk-h'ahd,' when not A.8., £1 103.' per week. All wages to be paid weekly. Hours of Work."The hours of Work shall be not more than ten hours per day (exclusive of -.meal hours) on seven, days of . tho. woek. Overtime shall be paid at the rato of time and a.half for all.time worked over,ten hours £ ill any one day, aiid for the purposes of this provision : eaeh day, shall sta'nu by itself. ..... .'., , Meals.'—Each worker, if ho desires it, shall bb allowed two intervalsj. not exceeding ono; hour each, for meals during the day, and no • worker shall bo required to work more than six hours without being allowed air opporof •having a ineal. : , . . , ' Towing.—When ferry steamer is - employed ill towing at a distance exceeding fifteen' miles from the . Wellington wharf, - the employer shall provide food and water for the whole clew. Six hours shall bo tho limit beyond whioll men shall not bo worked without a meal. • When it is known that a tow will extend beyond six consecutive hours, two firemen shall be carried, who shall work watch ind '.watch. .

Holidays—Chi-Christmas Day find Good Friday, if men are called upon to work, they shall bo paid at double-time rates, in liou of holidays. Eight .days' holidays oil fall pay aro to be given to each man in tho course of tho year, at such dates as may bo.found coiiveiiioiit. If a man remains with tho employer less than a year, he shall receive full wages for a number of days' or parts of days proportionate-'-to' tho timo ho has served. When running excursions on holidays, a stoamei' shall carry sufficient deck-hands to lower a boat in emergency.' During tho day's running, men are to be allowed ft sufflcijnt time to take a meal oil board; such time is to be counted in tho working hours.. When any man is reauired to attend, on duty on any of the above specified holidays, aud, lihVing attended, is told that ho is not required to work, ho shall receive 2s. 6d. for such attendance. ' ■ - : •

No Discrimination.—Employers'shall liot discriminate against members of the Union, and shall not, 111 the engagement or dismissal of men, do anything directly or indirectly for the purpose of injuring tho Union. When members of the Union and non-members aro employed together, there, shall bo no distinction between them, and both shall work together ill'harmony , mid under the - same conditions, and shall receive equal pay for equal work. . t ' Scopo of Award. —This'award shall not apply to any employers other than the employer horeinbeforo named.

Term of Award.—This award shall como into force on April 1, 190S, awl shall continuo in force until March 24, 1011. Memorandum.—This award embodies the agreement of the parties.

The number of tourists visiting Corsica, and especially Ajaceio, is increasing every year.' Tho interest in the- groat Napoleon augments as years go by, and the visit to tho house where the greatest of conquerors was born is a pilgrimage.— I "Drapeau, Ajaccio.

A man is very much what his mother makes him. If she is over-indulgent, fussy,' eternally anxious to shield her son from tho reasonable hardships and dangers of life, then she cannot expect him to grow up bold, solf-rcliimt, forceful, and energetic.—"Gentlewoman." 1

The largo area of land in the Seaward Bush district-swept by"the great'firo of over 12 months ago noiv presents a bettor appearance (snys tho "Southland Times") than over before. A recent visitor to tho locality stales that most of the sawmills burnt liavo linen orccted again, and tho Railway Doparl/i ut lias orectcd now stations \ilfere tho olcl 'Jts wcro demolished at Waimaiua and Tisbury. i Grass lias been sown ovor tiio burnt area, aiid altliotigh somo of tho settlors wero heavy losers, tho Tire no doubt' has dono a lot of good, and but'for its occurrence a largo, Area of land which is now used for grazing purposes would havo been uiipmTti'ctivc, especially in the once heavily scrubbed district around Waimatua.