ARBITRATION COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 1

ARBITRATION COURT.

The Arbitration Court- sat at Westpcr'.' on Saturday and dealt with a number ui' cast's. In the case M'Lcan v. the U.S.S. Co.. a clnini for £4OO compensation on behalf of the son of Robert Ttinibtill, wlio died jus the result of injuries by an accident on the R-akunoa.. evidence was given that deceased bad before his death expressed a wish that all he was possessed of should ?o to a sister in poor circumstances in Creenocl;. Scotland, and not to his son, because he had not got on well with his wife, and the son. who was in a brother's charge, was bemg well looked after. Counsel for deceased's son was granted permission 1o have, an examination by conimission of deceased's brother and son in Scotland, and the case was adjourned for pix months. • In an application by the Dcnniston Coal Miners' Union for'an interpretation of award, His Honor ruled that the proceedings were wholly irregular, the union ha.ving cancelled their registration, and the proceedings ha.ving Wn brought by the union instead of the inspector, and the caw was struck out. In the other case, the ftra.nity Miners' Union v. the Westport Coal Company, the union appealed front the magistrate's'judgment in a case brought to recover a. penalty for breach of the coal miners' award. The union contended that firejnen or drivers who'ha/1 worked 365 shifts in the year were entitled tinder the award to six days' holidays on full pay. It was shcrz. thai the men by aiTangentent amongst themselves and without any objection from the company had worked' 15, 14. and 13 shifts in .successive weeks, taking two shifts in succession in one week in order to get one Sunday off, and no overtime was paid. The company took the literal interpretation of the award, that the men must work seven days per week consecutively during the whole vear. The Court ruled that the clause must be interpreted reasonably, and that firemen and engine-drivers who had worked 365 shifts, not necessarily on 365 consecutive days, come within the operation of the clause. The appeal was allowed with costs (£4 4s) and disbursements.