ARBITRATION COURT.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 129, 27 November 1901, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

«. PAINTERS AND DECORATORS' DEMAND. After we went to press yesterday, evidence was heard in regard to the painters and decorators' dispute. The following witnesses gave evidence in support of the union's demands. Frederick Reyling, William John Dixon, David Johnston, Jas. Barnes, Morton Glading, and James M'Cullough. The points chiefly in dispute were hours (demand 44), wages (demand Is 4£d a hour, against Is 3d under last award), overtime (whether it should commence at 5 or at 6 p.m.), payment of apprentices (firsb year 7s 6d, second 12s 6d, third £1, fourth £1 ss, fifth £1 10s), and preference 'clause. Messrs. J. R. Cole and W. C. Noot appeared for the Painters and Decorators' Union, and Mr. Wm. Jennings for the employers. Jas. W. Evans, called on the part of the employers, put in a return, showing the wages earned by eight of his employees — five painters (brush hands) and three paperhangers-r-from June, 1900, to May, 1901. This showed that one painter for 16 years in his employ had averaged £2 13s a week, another painter £2 12s Hid, and a paperhanger a little over £2 16s. From a deduction made it appeared' that the general average was £2 9s 7d. Mr. Jennings, on behalf of the employers, asked for an optional 50 hours' week, it being optional to the employee to work an extra hour each day, and Saturday hours to be up to 1 p.m. instead of noon ; also for a reduction of the wage paid under the last award from Is 3d to Is 2d and Is, a Uniform wage being impossible. Messrs. Noot and Cole spoke in reply, supporting the Is 4£d hour rate, and other demands, including the terms of the preference clause. They urged that the average taken by Mr. Evans was not a fair one, as it included his best and most constant workers. The Court will hear the country evidence in this and in other disputes when it makes its provincial trip, commencing at Napier on Tuesday next.