ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13707, 25 March 1908, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

WELLINGTON BAKERS' DISPUTE.

[BY telegraph.— association-.]

Wellington, Tuesday. The hearing of the bakers' dispute was begun at the Arbitration Court to-day. In This case the Conciliation Board had made a recommendation which the employers declined to accept. It provided for a week of 48 hours, the time of commencing to be not earlier than four a.m., save on the days following one or two holidays, when the hours should be three a.m. or two a.m., according to circumstances. Among other provisions of the recommendation were the wages of the foreman, £3 5s per week; any man save the foreman working the oven, £3; others, £2 10s; jobbers, lis per day, all employees to receive dry pay. When the employer himself is substantially engaged in the bakehouse, he shall not commence work earlier than the hour mentioned, and shall attend to his own overset ferments, and take an equal share in sponging. Mr. Westbrooke, for the men's union, pointed out that in the country districts, where the Conciliation Board had sat, the master takers were fully represented Mastertoii, Dannevirke, Napier, Palmerston North, and Wanganuiand at each place a conference had been held and certain claims agreed to, Mr. Kellow, on behalf of the employers, said that the Wellington master bakers had not appeared before the Board at all at these country places. The country cases were not now in question. The Court was asked to deal with the dispute only as it affected Wellington and suburbs. The only difference in the counter-claim in respect to the wages asked was a reduction of 2s 6d on the minimum in all classes of work and they also claimed that the employer should be allowed to do any part of the work in the bakehouse he wished. They objected to the extra, holiday claimed for a picnic. On the question of bermaline and milk bread, it was agreed to keep these out of the award so long as fermentation was not used. In stating the case for the union, Mr. Westbrooke said it had been a standing grievance with the bakers that they had to work longer and more inconvenient hours than any other class. If the registration of the union was cancelled it would come under the Factories Act, and would get eight hours a day. The men could also demand the wages they were at present getting, or more. He contended that even if the result of conceding the remands was a slight increase in the price of bread the public would rather pay than see the workers sweated. The Court will sit in the country districts to hear further evidence. ANNOYANCE AT WANGANUI. [Br TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wanuaxui, Tuesday. A number of employers cited to appear before the Arbitration Court here to-day were considerably inconvenienced and annoyed to find that there was no sitting of the Court. One employer Had journeyed 50 miles, necessitating a loss of two days and was put to considerable expense No official intimation of any kind had been sent to the parties cited as to the postponement of the Court. l FAILURE TO PAY FINES. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Nelson, Tuesday. The Inspector of Awards applied at the Supreme, Court to-day before His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman for an attachment order under section 101 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act aeainst Sydney Smith for failure to pay fines of £5 14s and £3 14s, inflicted bv the Arbiration Court in July. The defence was (bat defendant had no, received notice to attend before the. Arbitration Court, and his counsel raised the point whether the Arbitration Court under such circumstances had jurisdiction. The clerk of awards gave evidence that notice to uppear had been sewed on defendant bv registered letter. His Honor said there was no direct proof of non-service, and the proceedings had been formal and regular. Orders of attachment were made in each case, in default 21 days' imprisonment in the first case and 14 days' in the second. Time was allowed for payment.