ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 128, 27 November 1923, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT

PRELIMINARY. PROCEEDirGS.

_ The Arbitration Court opened its git- ' tmgs m Wellington to-day. His Honoui • Mr- Justice Frazer ..presided, with Mr W. Scott assessor for the employers and m,H- . nt for the employees. The time of the Court was chiefly occupied, inmaking.fixtures for the hearing of the various cases and disputes on the list. The majority of the compensation cases were postponed until rest year, in consequence, of the shortness of time at the Court's disposal. The Court fixed Thursday, 29th November, for the hearing of the cases: Alfred Frank Wai- . ter (Mr. O'Regan) y.-Wellington Harbour Board (Sir. Treadwell), Robert William Norman (Mr.: Mazengarb) v Welhngton Harbour Board (Mr.;. Treadwell) Thomas E ; Smith (Mr.- 0 'Regan) v! Richard Tuckwell, Frank Tuckvvell;' and Mary Ann Traynor. ■ V. ' The date for the hearing : of the storemen's dispute was fixed -for- Tuesday next, at 10 a. m.' . '":' ■••-•:'• . J An application jor._exemption_from the butchers' award' was made by T*"Riddell, butcher, Rona'Bay, on the ground that the movement of the population to and from the city necessitated a^difference in the hours of_ opeiiing ■ and' closing: ' Most of the* householders Tri the district were engaged at work in the city during the day, arid did not arrive" back until about 6 o'clock in the evening. In evidence, the applicant stated that many people purchased their meat in town, because he was unable to keep open after 5.30, p.m. '_j" ,1' ~~"', '.'■ Mr. W; A. D. GrenfeH Appeared in support of the application, which was opposed by Mr. A. W. Croskery, on behalf of the union. Mr. Grenfell contended that conditions on the other. side of the harbour, the greater heat, the. existence 6£ "baches," arid other circumstances, rendered desirable that the meat shop should be kept open for the better preservation of meat Mr. ;Croskery contended . that the Court should not grant a special privilege in regard to the keeping open of shops. Previous butchers in the same shop had kept the hours of the award and had made no attempt to apply for exemption from the award. Mr. Croskery added that there- had been no applications from Lyall Bay, where there were more "batches" 1 than anywhere hi the bays about^ AVelUngton. nor from Island Bay.' In "both ~ these bays there was keen .competition among the butchers, whereas the applicant, was the only butcher at Eastbourne. Tile Court reserved its decision. His Honour incidentally distinguished between, the case of the general storekeeper in seaside suburbs dealing with all sorts of commodities and that of a butcher. The case would be dealt with on' its merits. The Court then adjourned till 10 a.m. on Thursday. '