ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5665, 12 August 1905, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, August 11. The Arbitration Court was again engaged to-day with the tailorefises* dispute. Evidence was taken on behalf of the employers, and Mr \V. Scott addressed the Court on their behalf. He thought it had been clearly proved that the* clothing manufacturing trade was not in the satisfactory condition it ought to be, and that there wtts keen competition from outside, which promised to be even keener in future. It was not ©a much a question of wages ag methods. With resj>ect to apprentices, he contended that employers were taking serious responsibility and liability on themselves. Mr Hood, for the union, said that they had been at a disadvantage because they had prepared to discuss the wage system and piece log. To a certain extent tho log had been quietly ignored and the employers" proposals sprung on them. Mr Scott said correspondence showed what was intended. I

Mr H x>d wont «n to say that while employers said it was not so much a question of wages as of method, what the;) submitted meant lower wages than had ever been known. The cry about threatened imports had been trotted out everv time they came before the Court. On the last occas;on the manufacturers said they were to be overwhelmed, but the Year Book and trade returns showed business was increasing. As to apprentices j What were girle to do when they had fulfilled their term r He thought the employers’ proposals should tu? set aside. It would be gross injustice to take away the little the union bad gained. The president said they w.,uid do their beet to get the mailer disposed of at an early date. Probably the Court would visit some of the lactones.