ARBITRATION COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 24 June 1912, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

REDUCTION OF HOURS REFUSED

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON. June 24.

The Arbitration Court opened to-day. The Court is hearing an application by the Wellington Grocers' Union for an award to supersede that of 1909, and a reduction from 52 hours to 51 hours was a-sked for. Fifty-two hvurs is fixed by the Shops and Offices Act, and Judge Sim said: "What is the use of asking uf to fix the hours? We have said as plainly a* v f can that it is -useless to a^k the Conn, t* redooa the 'hours."

M» Carey, who appeared for the Union, Whefc asked where fhe -redtiction of hours was going to lead to, said: "We will only be satisfied when we get them down to enough to produce sufficient wealth for the needs of +he country." His Honor asked if that nieant "four hours per day. Mr Carey: .[ am not a political economist; I believe four would "be enough:" Evidence was then called 'in this case. In the professional musicians' case the Court reserved decision.