LABOUR DISPUTES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 22, 26 July 1920, Page 8

LABOUR DISPUTES

BEFORE THE ARBITRATION: COURT The Court of Arbitration commenced its; sittings, in Wellington this morning. The Bench was occupied by Mr. Justice Stringer (President), and Messrs. "WScott and J. A. M'Cullough'." '" .•-'■• It was arranged, that the Wellington Typograchical dispute shall be considered en Friday morning next. '.:'. In the*, case of the Masterton Society of Carpenters and Joiners, it vaj stated that the union had refused to accede to the recommendations of the Conciliation Council. ■ The hearing of the case was thdrefpro adjourned to 3rd August. , ■ 111 the case of the Wellington Furniture Trades dispute, re" females, a- fixture was made for the afternoon of 3rd

August. ;Mr. M. J. Seardon ea-id,there had been a 'complete agreement '-in-, the.^dispute of the! Wellington Iron and Brass Moulder^; Union: ..Mr, H. P.; Allen, for.lthe; Ironfouuders, agreed, and he handed to the .Bench a "list of extra Holidays that hj{ye been. ..decided, upon as applying'to all branches ol the industry.. Mr.. Reafdon' said th"c only question to be settled was'as to when the award should 'cease to:/operate;'.. He reckoned that it was quite enough in .these days for a, union to consent to an arrangement for a year. Mr.;. Allen, for the employers, contended that an award ought to operate for at least two years. The matter was referred to the Court for consideration.

In connection with the Metal Workera' Assistants' dispute, the Wellington Harbour Board, who had been cited as a party, applied to be excluded from the list, though it did not object to paying the wages and overtime. The holidays, however, would not suit. The application was agreed to.

Application was made by the Harbour Board for exemption from the Boilermakers' award. Mr. M. J. Reardon contended that the Harbour Board was ■getting too many exemptions. The exemption was granted.

In the case of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, application was made that all the, clauses relating to apprentices should be made to apply to existing as well cs future apprentices. Thei President said the Court would deal with the subject" under the .War Regu-7 lations. The Court would consider the matter.

The hearing of the Wellington Builders and General Labourers' dispute was. fixed for Thursday, sth August, and the Biogi-aph Operators and Wellington Performing Musician?' dispute ..for the afternoon ■ of- the same day. ••'•••■

Mr. Puiardon.-said.. there--had- been a complete EettlememV^in ;the,;Mast-erton. and Wairarapa ■Builders.,---and"''General Labourers' dispute, and he applied that the agreement be converted into an award. The application was agreed to. The Wellington" Plumbers '.arid;. fitters' Union asked that the -agreement entered into commence on 15th March, and expire on 31st .August, 1921. An application by the Wellington Harbour Board for exemption was opposed by the union, and, after argument, granted by. the Court.

In the case of the Wellington Coachworker's Dispute,, it was agreed that'the* vages should be._.the.:. same." as ™ those' granted fab- Auckland 'and 1 Christehurch; and that the. award operate until 24th May, 1922.

Hearing of the Wellington' Retail Grocers' Assistants' dispute was fixed for 4th August.

The Wellington Motor Mechanics' agreement was reported to be complete, except in .regard .to.- holidays'.' ,', These wero agreed" to "between" the "parties, and' the agreement was filed as an award. The award covers the whole of the Wellington industrial dustrict. :

In connection- with the Wellington Timber Yards and Sawmill Employees' ■ dispute, Mr. C. Grayndler applied for exemption from the award for, about a thousand men, who are working in tho King Country and other country sawmills, on the ground that 1 they have nothing in common with .the' -Wellington ■workers, and had nothing to do with the drawing up of the award. .The hearing, of the case was adjourned until Monday afternoon next. ■, ■ • .

The Kelbuni Tramway Employees' dispute was set down for hearing on Satm--day morning next.

In the matter of the Wellington Municipal Employees' Union, an appeal from the decision of the Registrar, hearing was fixed for Wednesday morning next. Reference was made to the award in the Federated Cooks and Stewards' dispute. No declaration was made in it in regard to the supply of uniforms, and the"Uriioii Company' applied' to .ha ve'the, employees put on the same basis as they are in Australia, where they have to provicletheir own uniforms.. The. president said "the r matter "would; be dealt with later. .

•Application was made for an amendment of the Wellington Motor-car and Horse Drivers' award. The proposal was to give an additional ljd an hour for horse attendance, so as to bring the wages into line with those contained in other awards. The Court reserved its decision. .

The Palmerston North Borough Council ■ wrote applying for exemption from the Wellington-Builders and General-Lab-ourers' award. The application was refused. . * ' ' . •

Objection.was taken by. a number, of lady hairdressers to an application that they should be added lo the awards,-on the ground that they do the business of an ordinary hairdresser. On the other hand, the lady hairdressers contended that they earned on work of a special description, .'and"that"the award was not 1 intended to cover that class of work. Decision was reserved.

(Proceeding.)