ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 119, 13 February 1920, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT

WIDOW'S CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. Tho Arbitration Court commenced its sittings at Wellington yesterday under the presidency of His Honour Mr., Justice Stringer, Associated with' Hie Honour as assessors were Mr. W. Scott (representing-tho-employers) and Mr. J. ■V M'Cullough (representing the - inployees). Elizabeth Pettit, of Weillinglon, widow, proceeded against the Union Steam Si lp Company with a claim for .£SOO compensation, together with .£l9 Bs. (id. funeral expenses in respect of the death of ler husband, John Robert Pettit, waterside worker. The statement of claim alleged that on November' 12 Inst, w4iile Pettit was. helping to make the hulk Solgran fast to the Ferry Wharf at Wellington ho slipped .'on the deck of tho hulk end struck his chest heavily against a-grat. ing projecting above tho deck. Tn consequence of this accident he sustained an injury to his heart, from'which ho died on November 19. Mr. P. J. O'Rcgan appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. P. Levi for the defendant company. .Mr. Levi intimated that the company did not contest tho claim, but it wished the judgment to go through the Court. At tho same time, counsel thought lhat tho funeral expenses were rather hear/. He would not press the point, however. His Honour gave judgment fc-r .£SOO, plus £W Ss. fid. for funeral espensta, with costs according to scale. AGREEMENTS. In connection with the marino engineers' dispute, it was intimated that a complete agreement had been arrived it between the parties, and it was desired that it should be made into an award. Mr. W. Wallace, who appeared for the Marine Engineers' Institute, asked that the award fhould bo made retrospective as from July 1, 1919, so far as wages wero concerned. Mr. W. Grenfell, who appeared for the employers, raising no objection, this ccurso .was agreed to by His Honour, who made the usual order with regard to tho award. In regard to the Wellington United Furniture Workers, Mr. D, R. Kenn-xly said that the parties had come to a complete agreement, and desired to have a new award made in the t;hapo <f a Dominion award. The employers vera all in agreement, except in the northern district, FIXTURES. , Tho following fixtures were arranged by agreement between tho respective parties:— Wellington storemen's dispute, February 16. Wellington private hotel worker*'- dispute, February 17 Wellington restaurant and tea loom workers' dispute, February 18. Wellington dairy employees' dispute, February 19. Wellington cooks and stewards and Wellington boilermakers' disputes, February 28.

The Court adjourned till 10 a.m.. on Monday.