THE ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Star, Issue 11896, 26 May 1903, Page 8

THE ARBITRATION COURT

CHIPS FROM'THE BENCH. [Special to the Stae.] WELLINGTON, May 26. Mr S. Brown, a member of the Arbitration Court, has evidently a poor opinion of the mental calibre of employers. He remarked at yesterday’s sitting* of the Court that they “were more thick-headed than unionists” in understanding awards of the Court. Employers did not seem to take the trouble to read and study awards, the terms of which were clearly set forth by tiie Court. Mr Justice Cooper dropped a nice hint to unionists at yesterday’s sitting of the Arbitration Court as to the importance of an employment book. His Honor said that the proper keeping of such a book was of great importance to unions. Under the, terms of awards made by the Court it was necessary that unions should keep a properlyposted employment book at a convenient place before preference of employment could be claimed by members of the "union. If the book was not properly kept and not made available to employers, then the unions could not claim preference for their members over non-unionists. The book could be easily kept if officers of the union would _ only take the trouble to read the conditions set out in the awards, and they should understand that a cuaim for preference could also be made to prove a great convenience to employers. The Court gave point to the President’s remark by dismissing a claim for preference because the employment book had not been properly kept.