ARBITRATION COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 April 1901, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,)

CHRisTcaußcii, April 23. The Arbitration Court sat to-day, when cases brought by the Typographical Union against country newspapers in respect of wages, hours, and proportion of apprentices was taken.

A man named Boulter, employed by Hon. J. M. Twomcy, proprietor of the “ Temuka Leader,” called by the Union did not appear, and the Union delegates put in a letter from Boulter stating that he could not attend the court because Mr. Twomey had said he could not spare him, and adding that Mr Twomcy said ho would be responsible for the fine.

It appeared that there bad been a Technical mistake in serving the summons, it having been sent by registered letter instead of by personal service. Justice Cooper said it was fortunate for both Boulter and Twomcy that owing to the subpoena not having been properly served the witness technically had not been summoned and the court bad no power to punish.

The court directed a summons to bo issued and served properly and if Boulter was not in attendance on Friday morning he wou'd be dealt with and if it proved his non-attendance was due to any action of Twomey the matter would bo handed over to the Crown Prosecutor.

Mr Twomey said he desired to apolcr gise and that he had acted in ignorance. His Honour: A person in your position has no right to be ignorant in these matters.

Mr Twomey said he had never asked the man not to attend, it was his foreman who had spoken to the m m ; hi only desired to tender the humblest apology and to say that he never would do it again.

His Honour said that Twome.v’s apology would bo accepted but lie would like to say that the Court did not care whether a man was employer or worker, in a high position or a low one, the Court would deal to the fullest extent in its po.ver with him if h: attempted to intimidate witnesses.

At the Arbitration Court to day further evidence was heard in the dispute between the Typgraphica! U nion and country newspaper proprietors. .Mr Justice Cooper ask.d each proprietor tosn-ply a statement of revenue, expenditure and circulation, and the case was adjourned till Friday. The Court then entered on the dispute between the Federated Boot Manufacturers and Federated Boot Trade Union of Workers. The dispute will affect the whole colony and manufacturers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill are interested. The Union submitted 29 rules, the same as were placed before the Conciliation Board in October last year and called witnesses to support the demands. The examination of witnesses will be resumed to-morrow, and it is expected the case will occupy the Court nearly all the rest of the week.