ARBITRATION COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 193, 9 May 1908, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

ENGINE-DRIVERS" DISPUTE. ' [BV TEIEQEAPH.—PEESS ASSOCIATION,] '■• . • Auckland, May 8. One hundred and eighty-seven firms wore cited to appear'at tho Arbitration Court today as parties to tho encmo-drivers". dispute; Tho demands of the. workers"stipulate for a 48-hour, week; tho minimum pay tor first-class ' certificated stationary engine-drivers, £3 a week; second-class, JC3 lis. a week; .locomotive traction and winding engine-drivers and river engineers, iI3 a week. .The usual preference ana overtime clauses are also included. In opening the case'for" tho.'Union, Mr. Long kid tho case for the engine-drivers ..was. unique. Tlioy wei'e t),ie only bo'dy of men that camo before the Court in any, part/ of the Dominion that were required to hold a Government certificate. They had to. pass .. an examination to qualify, awl the attitude taken up,was that when a mail was called ' Upon, to pass a severe examination before being , qualified to take: charge of "an'engine' within the meaning of tho Act that man should not be paid labourer's' wages. Ho should have wages according to his ■ skill. No increase in pay was asked for excopt in tho case of traction engine-drivers • Edward Hodson, employed by the DevOnport' Steam "Ferry" Company;. paid ho worked 84a hours a week! and received a wage, of £3 io s '! He would be prepared to, receive a wago of X 3 for a 48-hour-week;. . , .. . William Rowley Eritwistle, another employee' of tho Ferry Company,,.said his. hours varied His work ran in sorios of thi'eo weeks, comprising S3, 78, and 42 Honrs respectively. William Hamilton, - an engine-driver employed at the sugar works, said ho received 9s por day. His duties, were to superintend 22 engines, and he did not' think , tho pay sufficient. . : The case was not concluded when the Court adjourned till to-monw<