ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19615, 22 July 1927, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT

SITTING IN DUNEDIN The Arbitration Court—His Honor .Mr Justice Frazer, (president) and Messrs W. Scott anVl A. L. Mpnteith (assessors)—commenced sitting in Dunedin this morning. LINESMEN’S AWARD. 1 The case of the Dunedin and Suburban Electrical Linesmen’s award was first dealt with. Mr J, Robinson appeared for the union. Mr A. S. Cookson, on behalf of the employers, said the recommendati m from tho Conciliation Council was complete except in respect to one matter of classification. The employers wanted the drivers to be employed for tho same number of hours and to receive tho same rate of pay as tiie assistant linesmen. There was at present a variation in the hours woraed—tho linesmen working forty-four and the drivers forty-eight. Previously the drivers employed by the corporation were treated as linesmen's assistants, and were paid accordingly. When an agreement was made in respect of drivers, however, in which more favor .able terras were provided, the drivers’ were shifted to tho Drivers’ Award. The drivers employed on the elect rival work were kept constantly on that work, and it would be much more convenient if they were to conform to tiie hours of tho linesmen. For most of the day they worked an assistant linesmen. After some discussion His Honor said he did not think there should be any difficulty in having the matter adjusted. Notice, however, should be given to tho Drivers’ Union. Mr Robinson said it was felt that the drivers should bo under the Drivers’ Award. His Honor said a special danse could be inserted in the Drivers’ Award to cover the drivers working as linesmen. It was decided that Mr Cookson should discuss the matter with Mr Herbert, tho secretary of the Drivers’ Union, and that it might lie mentioned to the court on Monday morning. APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION. D. K. Griffon, of Oamaru, made application for exemption from the dominons .drivers’ passengers’ transport award. There was no appearance of the applicant, hut His Honor read a report winch Had been made by the inspector on the case. Mr W. Herbert (for the union) said such a inis service as tho applicant had might not be brisk in the winter, but it should bo good in the summer. His Honor said the applicant wanted to employ a youth. He had not. a fully-paid driver unless he himself could be classed as one. Tho service was more or less the borough service, and there would not ho ftiuch difference between summer and winter.

It was finally agreed that the application should be adjourned till the next sitting of the court in Dunedin, on the understanding that the union did nob raise any objection till tho matter was finally disposed of. VARIOUS APPLICATIONS. Applioaion was made to extend the Kaitangata coal miners’ award to cover the new company which is now working the mine in place of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company.—His Honor made an order adding the new company as a par tv. An application to have Messrs Kerapthornc, Prosser, and Co. added, as a party to tho brewers and bottlers’ award was struck out. The court made an order amending the painters and decorators’ apprenticefillip order in terms of the committee’s recommendation. FIXTURES. The following fixtures were made by the court:— Bristow v. Jamieson, Claim for compensation. To bo heard on VTednesday morning, at 10 o’clock. Haines v. Quaife, claim for compensation, Tuesday morning, at 10 o’clock. Hearing tho dispute in respect to hrickmakers, pottcrymakers, etc., was fixed for to-morrow morning, at 10 o’clock.