ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Star, Issue 17927, 24 March 1922, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT

BUTCHERS' DISPUTE The butchers' dispute was heard by tho Arbitration Court .at Wellington yesterday. The only points on which tho decision of the court was sought wore regarding wages and tho term of tho award. Mr A. W. Croskery, for the union, said the case was the cleaning np of butchers awards for the Dominion, as Wellington was the only centre not enjoying tho ruling rate, as the union had not had an opportunity of appearing before the court for sixteen months. Ho asked that no reduction should be made after the award had been filed. Tho increase in weekly wages sought was 8s 6cl. Mr Grenfell, for the employers, said that Sir Croskery had apparently overlooked the fact that tho workers had been receiving a bonus while, waiting for . the court, lie submitted that the rates in the old award should ho renewed. Tho President said that it was generally recognised that the granting of higher wages had temporarily, at any rate, come to a stop. Everyone knew that industry was not yet stable, and that everything depended on the price of primary products. It was the fortune of war that some unions had received (hot benefits of increases before others, Tbc court would find itself faced with a serious difficulty .if it tried to make a general rule that unions widen obtained an award after a certain. date were to be exempt from the provisions of any snbseuuent decisions. Respecting the term of the award. His Honor was inclined to think that it did not matter whether it was long or short. Decision was reserved.