ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE CARTERS' DISPUTE. The . Arbitration Court resumed its hearing of tho carters' dispute at the Supreme Court Buildings yesterday forenoon, when the case for the suburban carters was opened. His Honor Mr. Justice Cooper presided, and Messrs. S. Brown and R. Slater, were also present. Messrs. R. p" Way, B. Kane and E. Davis represented the union and Mr. Nicholla appeared for the suburban master carters.

Mr. Nichoils opened his case and said that the rata of wage paid to 'his class of carter was from £1 2s 6d' to £1 per week and board and lodging. Their hours were from seven a.m. till five p.m., but the work was not continuous. Ho then called an employee as witness. W. B. Lloyd, of the firm of Andrew and Lloyd, of Otahuhu, said that his firm's carters were employed in chaff carting from Otahuhu and also did cartiug of bonedust from the wharf. They did not compete with the heavy carters. The men received from £1 to £1 5s per week and board and lodging. All holidays were allowed and paid for. The hours worked were on an average from eight a.m. till five p.m. for five days and on Saturdays from eight a.m. till one p.m. On return trips from town goods were carted back if necessary, but the carters did not solicit orders. Thomas Cunningham said his firm did carting between Auckland and Onehunga with drays and lorries and a little carting in the city. Ho was quite willing to falf in with the others as far as the town work was concerned. As, regards Onehunga work the hours were from eight a.m. till seven p.m. All the men wero married and received fr®m £2 2s per week to £2 7s 6d. the higher rates for three-horse drivers. It was impracticable to work the hours demanded at Onehunga as the port was a tidal one and the Government controlling the wharf would only allow cargo on it during prescribed hours. They also competed with the railway. Mr. Templer ' (for the master carters) then referred to the cases of the Direct Supply Company and Lamb and Smith and applied for exemption in these oases on the ground that tho carters employed were shop assistants. -■ / Mr. Way then opened the case for the bakers' carters and read the demands. Mr. Templer raised the question as to whether the bakers' carters were shop assistants. . . * . His Honor said that the Court had power to fix the wagee of the employees in any trade or any section of it, and they were going to do it. It would. be an injustice to the trade to decline to fix the wages of certain sections and to fix others. He absolutely declined to express any opinion at this stage as to tho effect of the Shop and Shop Assistants Act on the case. Evidence'was then called for . the union in support of their demands. - Mr. Smerdon addressed the Court on behalf of tho master bakers. Ho said they were prepared to accept the recommendations of the Conciliation Board, and when the question was submitted, to a committee which drow up new proposals these proposals followed very closely the Conciliation Board - recommendations. The masters wanted 48 hours to constitute a week's work, the employers to fix the hour of starting. On the question of minimum wage they thought £2 was ample for a competent carter. They thought the Court should fix a oortain age and wsigo for youths, the employers to. decide as to their competency. Masters with small businesses and small and scattered rounds were compelled to employ youths. The masters were willing to pay 20 per cent, extra, wages as overtime, but no overtime should bo paid until the carter had been a month on the road. They objected to preference to unionists. " Messrs. Burton, Buchanan and Kent gave evidenoe on behalf of the master bakers, stating that in view of the rise in the price of flour if the demands of the union wore conceded in this case it would moan a rise in the price of bread. THE GASWORKERS' AWARD. His Honor announced that the Court had fixed the rate of wages in the gas stokers' and coalers' dispute for both classes of coalers at 7s 6d per shift. They considered that there was no distinction between the two classes, as ' the evidence showod that the work done by both classes was the same. With regard to the stokers, taking into consideration the nature of tho work and the industry itself, they thought a fair rate of wage for them was Is 2d an hour or 9s 4d per shift. The- award would bo filed today (Saturday) and take effect from Monday next. - In answer to Mr. Regan, His Honor said the question of payment for holidays had been considered, and as the gas must be supplied the Court considered that 9s 4d per shift was sufficient. Tho award would cover all stokers and coalers employed by the Auckland Gas Company in the Auckland district. At Mr. Regan's request the period of the awards was fixed for two years. THE BUTCHERS* DISPUTE. Mr. Regan asked that the hearing of the butchers' dispute be postponed from the 28th inst.,' as the men would be incon- j venienced on that day. His Honor said the hearing of the seamen's dispute had been fixed for Monday next and would probably last two days, and on the following Monday the; Court would leave for Dargaville, in order to take evidence there in the sawmillers' dispute. The butchers' case would not be taken before the 10th pros. Mr. Regan said there was a probability of a settlement, but any settlement arrived at would at once be made known to the Court. „ The Court resumes tho hearing of the carters' dispute at half-past ten to-day.