BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 315, 30 September 1908, Page 4

BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

■— Yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was attended by the Itev. W. A. Evans (chairman),' and Messrs. F. G. Bolton, 1). Robertson, H. Cook, and J. Smith. . Tho secretary reported that there: wero 102 inmates at tho Ohiro Home, ,71 of whom were niales.. . -- ■ ... For some time tho quostion of dealing with cases which aro not suitable- for treatment at tho Ohiro Home, and cannot exactly lx> classed as casuals, has been considered by tho Trustees; Plans wero yesterday laid on tho tablo showing a- building which it is proposed to erect for tho accommodation of such persons. It will bo situated in . tho grounds of tho Ohiro Homo but .will bo separate from that institution.' Provision is mado in tho plans for men's shelter 40ft. x 16ft., women's shelter 20ft. x 16ft., kitchen, attendants' room, and wash-house, each 16ft. x 12ft., and ' necessary conveniences. The accommodation will bo sufficient/for about 25 persons. ' After seme discussion in committee, tho board resolved to,refer tho matter to a subcommittee for report." ' • " : -Tho usual cases for relief wero then dealt

ARBITRATION COURT.

6 CLAIM FOll COMPENSATION. A PALMKRSTON NORTH CASE. ! 'flic judgment of the Court of Arbitration in rospect of the ease Alfred I-loward Kelse.y (claimant) v. Trevor, and Sons, Ltd., (respondents), was filed yesterday. ' 'i'lio facts in this ease were as follow: — On February 9. 1907, claimant, who is a carpenter, sustained an injury to his left eye whilst , working, in the ,employ qf respondents. The accident was caused through a nail which lie'was striking rebounding and entering his eye. Claimant sued respondents for £150 as compensation. On June 10, 1907, ail order was made by consent embodying a declaration of liability on the part of respondents, but it did not contain aiiy award. Claimant now asked the Court to award him compensation as from the. date of the accident. The Court held that, the order made on claimant's application for compensation ought to bo treated as an adjudication that he was not entitled to anything up to the date of the order, and that the declaration of liability was made only to preserve his right t<3 compensation in future. Claimant was in its opinion entitled to compensation for the period between June 10, 1907, and April 18, 1908. The amount which the Court found ho was entitled to receive was £30 Gs. If claimant became incapable by reason of the injury of earning as much as he had before the accident he would bo entitled to further compensation from the respondents. Claimant would also be allowed five guineas costs; with disbursements and witnesses' expenses. ; Mr.' Hurley appeared for claimant, and Mr. Inness for the respondents. A DISPUTED 'CLAIM,. A case of considerable importance to persons engaged in the flaxmilling industry ;eame 1 before the Court" of. ' Arbitration at 'Palmorston North. Johanna' Cameron, of Foxton, 'claimed''£4oo from .'Oliver Austin, ;flaxmiller, on account of the death of lier jhusband. It appeared that' deceased was jpaid so much per ton for . carting ilax. On ■April '20 last, whilst engaged' loading' flax, ho suddenly collapsed, failing from tho top of the load into his mate's arms, .and dying in a few moments. A post-m'ortom examination revealed the fact that deceased had suffered from heart disease. As a defenco .to the claim, it was contended (1) that deceased died from natural ■ causes, and (2) that deceased was an independent contractor and not a worker, i Dr. Mandl, in evidence, stated that-deceased might have died at any moment, and that his death was probably accelerated by the labour ho was. engaged in. Evidence was also given to show that deceased was liable to be dismissed (\t any time. After having heard lengthy argument, the Court reserved its decision. *Mr. P. J. ; O'Eegan appeared on behalf, of tho claimant, • and Mr. El B. Drown for tho respondents.

: ; MASTERTON CASES. GENERAL LABOURERS'. DISPUTE. (BY TEf.ECIEArrr. —SPECIAL CORttESrONnENT.) ' i Masterton, September 29. . The Arbitration Court hold a sitting at Masterton on Tuesday, when ovidenco ivas taken in tho General Labourers' dispute. His Honour Mr. Justice Sims and Messrs. J. A. M'Cullough and S. Brown constituted the Court. William T. Mansfield, ..engineer and town clerk at Masterton, gave evidence as to the rates of pay observed by tho council. The lowest rate paid, with, the exception of ono spccial servant, was Is. 'l{d. per. hour, tho foreman receiving Is. 4-Jd'. per hour. The pay for casual men was 9s. per day, but tlioy lost time on wet days and when their services were not engaged. Time and a t|iiarter for. tho" first three' hours an.d time and a half after that were paid for overtime, holidays and Sunday work , being paid for at tho rato of double time. I Henry Drake, labourer, said he found \it Impassible to maintain himself and family 611 Is. per hour, tho pay he was receiving. Ho

had earned as low'a wage as ss. per week through broken .time, .and averaged' about30s. last winter. Ho found boots a particularly costly item when employed on tar a.ud concrete work. Archibald .Lee and Michael O'Mcara"also . gave evidence. Martin Kerins, a road contractor, said he thought the claims of tho union were not unreasonable, and lie was prepared to abide by them. I-Ie thought good men earned the wages set out in the claims. _. M. J. Ileardon, union secretary, said,-in evidence, that another local contractor, M; Carmody, had given evidence before the Conciliation Board in which he. stated lie paid his men from 10s. to 15s. per day in accordance with tho class of work performed by them.. '• This was all tlie.evidence taken, Mr. l'ryor intimating that lie had no witnesses. In addressing tho Court on the. evidence, Mr. Pryor argued strongly against any interference with the conditions attaching.to general labour, as such interference would greatly affect skilled workers. He ws.s opposed to county and borough councils being included' in tho award, for various reasons, and particularly on the ground that in bad times local bodies frequently established relief works, and the rate of pay would be prohibitive to such works if the' cla.ims set out wcro granted. Sir. Roardon, in reply, said that, local bodies _ could not fairly' claim exemption, when it was shown that some of them were not treating their employees fairly. BREACHES OF AWARDS. , Inspector G. Hood , brought several charges of breaches of awards. G. M. Deller,, of Carterton, pleaded not guilty to having committed foiir breaches of the Butchers' Award, in. paying 30s. per week with . moat allowance,. . instead of £2 10s. por week as provided in the award.. Dr. 'Mmble,appeared for defendant,..who on oath gave various reasons for paying, men less wages than the award specified. The Court held that a broach bad been conimitted, and fined Deller £5, and tho employees 10s. each. A breach only was recorded against W. Aronsten, auctioneer, for failing to pay the award rate in the. Butchers' Award. The moat was sold by auction, and tho inspector did not press for a penalty. : T. M'Cracken, proprietor of 'the Greytown " Standard," pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to indenture an apprentice. The Court ruled that the information', could sustained, and it was dismissed.' '.- OTHER BUSINESS., >, Evidence was taken in the tailors' dispute, Albert. Webb,' of Masterton, 1 being the onl.y' witness called by the employers. He "strongly opposed tho demands' regarding apprentices, and favoured daily wages instead of weekly. Messrs. Pryor and Muir then went through the evidence at length. "> ; The engineers' dispute was next called on, no evidence being tendered. ' Messrs. Westbrook (for: the union) and Pryor (for the omployers) both weilt exhaustively through tho claims, and counter proposals.® The Court then adjourned for the day.' To-morrow the drovers' dispute will be heard.' ■