ARBITRATION COURT.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 127, 25 November 1901, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

coofcs and Waiters. The club phase of the cpoks/ and waiters' dispute was discussed. when the Aibitration Gourt met this n}ornjng. The President (Mr. Justice Cooper) ' •said that the Court was of opinion that clubs ought not to be attached to the award, for they differed from ordinary hotels and restaurants. He thought ft impossible to conceive, as had been suggested, that clubs were competing with hotels. Only a certain section of the public were allowed in these clubs, the tariff wad higher than the hotels, the hours were different, and it was absurd, to his mind, to say that they were competing with hotels. The Court thought that, for the present, at any rate, there was no reason for attaching any of the club 3 to the award. Mr. Cooper (for the union) said he was prepared to prove that in some of 'the clubs the employees .were working 12 and 13 hours a day. The President still thought that the better course would be to leave clubs out of the present reference. That would not prevent the Union from applying to have them attached later on, though it would require a strong case. Mr. Cooper said the application would be made as soon as the award had been given. THE PAINTERS' CASE. The Court then passed on to tho hearing of the painters' case. Messrs. J. R. Cole (President) and W. C. Noot represented the union of operative painters, Messrs. W. Jennings and R. Tingey the Master Painters' Union, Mr. G. F. Smith • the Harbour Board, Mr. Holmes the Union Steam Ship Company, and Mr. J. Hutchen the Stewait Company. Some other firms' were also represented. Mr. Smith applied that the Harbour Board should be struck out of the reference, for several reasons. In May last & conference was held between the masters and employees' unions, but tho Board was not asked to send any representative. The'Manawatu Railway Company, a private corporation trading for profit, had been struck out by the Conciliation Board, but ia' similar application by the Harbour Board, a public body, which had no connection with any trade, was refused. The Board did not employ any painters. The only painting done by it was on its sheds, buoys, beacons, and the tarring and whitewashing of its wharves^ etc., and this did 'not require skilled labour. The ordinary wharf labourer Was able to do the work. If the Board was brought into such a case as the present a huge principle would be opened up. The Board employed a sailmaker, who was also a rigger, and ran. a machine. They would presently find themselves cited by three unions with regard to this man. They had another who was a plumber and also a tinsmith; two unions were concerned over him. There was a third who was a carpenter as well as a diver, and two unions would look after his interests. All this would be increased were the Board compelled to employ professional painters. If the Board was joined, ail local bodies should, he contended, be attached, to carry the matter to its legitimate conclusion. Mr. Cole objected to the Board being struck out. The union contended that the Board did employ painteis. Mr. Smith said the Board did at one time employ outside painters, but the result was such that it was riot intended to employ them again. In reply to the Court Mr. Smith said the painting was done in the wintei months by casual wharf labourers. The President said the Court might make a special reference in its award with regard to wharf labourers who were employed on this work. Mr. Smith— But we don't want to have to pay them the wages of skilled men. The President— Certainly ' not. Mr. Cole said there was another reason why the Board should be joined It employed sailors to do painting, and after a time these men entered into competition with ordinary tradesmen. Mr. Noot supported the union's ob« jection. Mr. Jennings, on behalf of the MastersUnion, also approved the opinion that the Board should be joined in the award, ond contended that it would pay the Board to employ good -workmen to paintits sbeds. The Court reserved the point ; also the Question of wages payable by the Union, 'ompany, all other matters in dispute with this company having beea settled by voluntary agreement. The Court adjourned at noon until ia-lf-past 2 o'clock for the attendance of parties who had not been notified.