THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 March 1909, Page 2

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

MINERS' DISPUTES ON Tl- .^

WEST COAST.

[United Peess Association.}

WESTPORT, Saturdaj'. I The Arbitration Court sat at West- I port to-day and dealt with a number of eases.- In McLean versus U.S.S. Company, claim for .€4OO compensation ou 'behalf of the son of Robert Turnbull, who died as> the result of injuries by accident on the Rakanoa, evidence was given that the deceased before death had expressed a "wish that all ho possessed should go to his sister, who was iv poor circuintanees in Greenock, Scotland, and not to the son, because he had not got on well with his wife and the son, who was in a brother's charge, and was being well looked after. Counsel for the deceased's son was granted permission to have an exatninatiin by commission of the deceased's brother and : son in Scotland, and tho ease was adjourned for srix months. In an application by the Denniston Coal Miners' Union for an interpretation of the award, Uis Honor ruled that the proceedings were wholly irregular, the union having cancelled its registration, and proceeding? having been brought by the union instead of by the Inspector, and the caso was struck out. •

In another cafe the Granity Miners' Union (Westport Coal Company) an appeal was mado from the Magistrate's judgment in a case brought to recover a penalty for a breach of the coal miners' award. The Union contended that n firm of drivers who had worked 305 shifts in the year were entitled to six days' holiday on fnll pay. It wa." shown that the men byarrangements amongst themselves, and without objection from the company, worked fifteen, fourteen, nnd thirteen shifts in «iiecessive weeks, taking two shifts in -tieer-ssion one werk in order to get one Sunday off, :md no overtime paid. The company took :i literal interpretation jf lh-'---award that men must work ?even days a week consecutively the whole year. Tho Court ruled that the olan*o must be interpreted reasonably, and Mint firemen and engine drivers who Imd worked 3il;"> shifts, not necessarily r:i 3C5 consecutive days, come within •'he operation of the clause. The lpjippl was allowed, with costs £-1 H nui disbursements.