ARBITRATION COURT.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 133, 5 June 1902, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE SEAMEN'S DISPUTE. Yesterday's proceedings in the Arlitratiou Court arc report od on page 7of this issue. On the Court resuming this morning, Mr. W. T. Young closed the case lor tho Wellington section of the Australasian Federated Seamen's Union. This concluded tho Wellington hearng of tho Austialasian Union's dispute. Tho final phase is to be taken in Dunedin, after (ho Wellington session of theComt has closed. The dicputo filed by tho Federated Seamen* Union of New Zoaland was Ihen called ou. The demands are practically tho samo as those of the dispute just heard. Tho union was represented by its Secretary, Mr. William Jones. The employers cited were those con'eerned in tho prcvioufily-hoaid dispute. Tho President intimated thnt though the Court was Louring tho two disr/utcs separately, it would make only one avard for the seafaring trade Mr. Junes snid that there was an impression abroad that his union whs a local ono. This wan not so. It van n colonial union, and had branches in various portß of the colony. But it had been decided to .state the whole case to tho Court in Wellington. Mr. Jones asked (ho Court to nilo as to tho procedure in thin ense. The dispute hnd been hoard by tho Conciliation Board, and his union had accepted tho \thole of tho Board's recommendation!). It was the employers that had referred the dispute to tho Court. Should not the employers open the c:isc .' Tho President ruled that tho patty which hnd vvfenctl the <vi«t' to tho Uoitl must open tho proceedings. All in tho Court burst into laughter it Iho look of astonishment and dismay tint camo over tho faces of tho employers at tho table as Mr. Jones scored thin point Even this Judge and his colloagues wei« unnblo to avoid joining in the amusing scene. Tho President suggested to Mr. Kennedy that ho might rest his case upon the evidence which ho had produced during the hearing of the previous dispute. Mr. Kennedy said he was taken wholly by surprise. He asked for an udjournment to enable him to consult the othei parlies to the dispute. Tho Court adjourned until 2.30 o'clock this afternoon.