WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15333, 16 June 1910, Page 7

WORK AND WAGES.

YORKSHIRE WOOLLEN TRADE. TEMPORARY AGREEMENT. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 14. The result of Mr G. R. Askwith’s efforts is that a tentative agreement has been reached in the woollen trade dispute. INTERPRETATION OF AN AWARD. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Juno 15. The Arbitration Court (Mr Justice Sim and Messrs \V. Scott and J. M’Cullough) continued its sittings to-day. The Court was asked to interpret Clause 51 of the current Federated Seamen’s award. Mr P. Levi appeared for tho Union Steam Ship Company,, and Mr W. T. Young, secretary of tho Seamen’s Union, represented tiro Union. Tho facts were as followsOn Sunday, February ‘27 , the steamship Arahura, in tho course of her ordinary" trade, arrived at Picton, and. alter landing mails, luggage and passengers, sailed again. She arrived at Nelson, landed her mails, etc., and sailed again lor Westport. As the vessel arrived at and sailed from two ports witnin tho meaning of tho award, tho Union Steam Ship Company contended that eacli member of tho crew \yas entitled to tho minimum of four hours’ overtime for arriving at and leaving Picton, and schedule overtime to the men employed for the actual time worked at Nelson. The Seamon’s Union contended that each momber of tho crew was entitled to the minimum of four hours’ overtime for Picton, and in addition the same minimum for Nelson, making a total of eight hours’ overtime per man for tho two ports. Mr Levi said tho facts wore simple. The question was as to tho minimum overtime tho men were ontitled to. There was no cargo worked at tho first port. It was all worked at tho second. Mr Young said that the Arahura’s men had suffered in this way on not less than threo occasions since the one under notice. Surely they should receive some consideration. In the ggreed conditions obtaining prior to the maritime strike, tho company would havo been liable for £1 4s per man. To day they were asking for only ono-tliird of that, Bs. Decision was reserved.