SEAMENS UNION DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 5

SEAMENS UNION DISPUTE.

CONCLUSION OF THE EVIDENCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Dunedin, Wednesday. At to-day's sitting of the Arbitration Court Mr. Belcher continued his address. He said the preference of employment clause had given rise to mora controversy than any other clause in the award. The Seamen's Union ever since the Arbitration Act had been in existence had been contending for the principle of preference of employment to its members. The Court had not thought fit to grant that, to seamen, although there had never been any substantial reason advanced by the Court in refusing to grant the request. 4 The Seamen's Union had 95 per cent, of the men employed in their union, and no other organisation could say they had 95 per cent, of the workers at their particular trade in their union. The case, which has occupied the Court for 25 days in various parts of the colony, over 70 witnesses having been examined, was concluded to-day. The President (Mr. Justice Chapman) intimated that the award would be given shortly. He remarked that notwithstanding the strenuous struggle made by the parties in support of their respective interests, the best spirit had been shown, and the case had been conducted with conspicuous ability.