WATERSIDE WORKERS' CLAIM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 10 May 1912, Page 7

WATERSIDE WORKERS' CLAIM.

AUCKLAND, May 9. In the Arbitration Court to-day a case was heard in which certain employers, represented by Mr Grosvenor, .asked ior an award fixing the conditions for waterside workers in terms of an agreement made by ' the Conciliation Council. The application was opposed by Mr R. F. May on behalf or the union, and Mr G. Smith on behalf of other employers. In support of his objection, Mr May said that the union took no part in conciliation proceedings, as it had already applied for cancellation of its registration. Assessors for the workers were appointed by the Commissioner. He contended that the Court had no jurisdiction. Mr May added that of four firms represented by Mr Grosvenor two were working under the agreement made outside the Act, and the other two employed very little labor. Mr Grosvenor replied that 30 parties had been added by the Conciliation Council, and he claimed that there was disunion among the workers, and in support of this he produced a petition signed by 201 unionists asking for an award. . Mi- Smith claimed that the seven firms he represented .employed 90 per cent of the labor, and he produced returns showing that the number of men employed by them collectively averaged 766 per week. The Court reserved its judgment.