ARBITRATION COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12571, 5 August 1901, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

> SITTING IN CHRISTC-HURCH. A sitting of the Arbitration Court was commenced irr the > Provincial Council Chambers on Saturday, bel'oro Mr Justice Cooper, president, and Messrs S. Brown and '&. Slater, arbitrators for the employers and workers respectively. THE HAIRDRESSERS. The case brought by the Hairdressers and -Tobacconists'. Assistants' Union against' Messrs.- Eslick. Bros, and others was-called on,-,-;-;.., .-,<n ~..-,,. ■ ■ , All.-, the.-tmplovers, .cited "«"cre represented by Messrs A. Eslick, U. Davies and A. Francis, and the. Uni.cn.by Messrs W, Gilbert, A. Reynolds and W. Simpson. Mr Eslick said that the solicitor or the employers had entered a writ of' prohibition against the Court of Aibitration going on with the'case, as the <pomt as to whether or not hairdressers came under the Industrial Conciliation 'and Arbitration Act would be taken to the Supreme Court'for final decision. He therefore asked for an adjournment. His Honor said that he certainly would : not grant an adjournment on the grounds eet forth. Three* or four months ago thfArbitration'' 'Court had decided /that it had jurisdiction in the case. No steps' had been taken to enter an injunction until that morning. He considered that the employers had teen playing fast and loose with the Court. He "would'proceed with; the case until stopped by the Supreme Court, if Dtoppsd at all. The employers had had ample opportunities to have had the point tested in the Supreme Court four or five times over, and in the Court of Appeal as well. He 'therefore intended to proceed with the case...' If, however, both parties were agreeable, he would adjourn the case till Monday. That would be done entirely to suit the convenience of the employers and the workers, and would be irrespective of any action' connected with Supreme Court proceedings. Mr Gilbert, on behalf of the : Union,, asked for an adjournment till Monday, as Saturday was a busy clay. ■ The case was adjourned accordingly till 10.30 a.m. on Monday. THE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION. When the case brought by the Canterbury Typographical Association against the Christchurch " Press," " Lyitelton Times " and-'other employers was called on, Mr J. C. Wilkin, on behalf of the employers, said that an agreement had been filed in regard-to the newspapers. The agreement was handed into Court. Mr W. S. Smith, representing Messrs Smith, Anthony, Sellars and Co., stated that his firm had not signed the agreement because it was doing a jobbing business, and used a different type-setting machine from that used by newspaper proprietors. His firm was already paying more" than the Union demanded, but objected to tho conditions. The case against the 'firm was adjourned till Tuesday, at 10.30 a.m. PRINTING MACHINISTS. The case brought by the Canterbury Lithographic arid Letterpress Printers' Machinists Union against .the "Lyttelton, Times" Company and others was called on. Tho employers were, represented ...by'. Messrs J. C.'' Wilkin, [G. H... Whit-combe, ■ H. J. Weeks and' P. S-'elig, and the worker's'by M/sssrs'J.''Williams, W. Berry and H. Gpldthorpe'. His Honor said that the-parties should endeavour to settle as many points as possible before 'discufeing them in.'the'"Court.. Mr Wilkin, said' the employers objected to the minimum wage of £5 a week, ask'ed for, and stipulated for £2 ss. The employers had shown every inclination to conciliate before going into" the Court; His Honor said if there were points on whicli it was impossible for the patties, ro come to an agreement the Court would deal with them. But the Court did not wish to ' force am award on either party. It would be better to come to an amicable arrange-' : merit;' :; The'" Court would'"gladly give "the ■ parties any time they needed, and; indeed, any other assistance, to .enable them to come to some arrangement. Mr Williams said that it-was absolutely impossible for the Union) to agree to a minimum Wage of £2 ss. He, however, was quite willing to have a, conference on other items. Be) was willing to concede the point in regard to the hours "of labour, if the employers conceded other points.; The recommendations of the Board of Conciliation were gone through, item by item. .'•'..' Mr Se'lig said there were really only two items in, regard to which there was a difference, namely, the minimum wage and the term of.apprehticeship;'' 1 "', His Honor adjourned' the' case until 10.30 a.m. on Monday, in order that a conference should take place on these two items. The representatives of both parties met in the Chamber immediately the Court adjourned. No agreement was come to, and the case will be called on on Monday. THE PAINTING. TRADE. His Honor stated that the dispute in connection with the painting trade would be taken on Monday week.