ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5735, 2 November 1905, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. Tho Arbitration Court—Mr Justice Chapman (President), and Alessrs Brown and Slater—sat again yesterday in the hearing of applications for enforcement of awards. DRIVERS’ AWARD. J. J. Aloorc, for having committed a breach of the drivers’ award by employing a lad under eighteen years of age, was fined £2, and costs. COOKS AND STEWARDS. Tho Federated Cooks’ and Stewards' Union, represented by Air AY. Jones, its secretary, applied for an enforcement of tho award between itself and the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr Kirby represented the company. In opening tho case, Air Jones said that the company had committed a number of Breaches, For instance, prior to Juno Ist. 1904 (date the award came into force) certain employees were designated third cooks, but subsequently they wore signed off the articles, and re-omployed under another designation to do the same work at £1 a month less than the award would entitle them to receive under their original designation. Also, the award laid down that'' butchers should receive a bonus of £3 a. mouth consequent on good conduct and ability, but butchers in the Union Company’s steamers which were not fitted with refrigerators did not receive that bonus. The whole matter had been carefully arranged to defeat tho provisions of the award. One man whom he would have called as a witness to prove his charge in regard to the butchers had been transferred from the coastal trade to the South Sea Island trade, and could not bo reached. One specific charge was that overtime had not been paid on Labour Day to some of tho union’s members on board the Taka puna at New Plymouth. After hearing evidence, the Court decided that tfip charge was not proved. Another was that overtime had not been paid to min on the Pateena leaving Picton before 5 o’clock p.m. on Sunday. Tho defence in that was that tho port in this instance had been made a port of refuge from bad weather. The Court reserved its decision. "TOO MUCH -MONEY.”

Mi- Jones then brought forward a rather ' unusual complaint. 'Under the award a cabin-cadet is described as a lad who has not served twelve months at sea. Tho company promoted a lad who had not been twelve months at sea, and increased his pay very considerably. Tho union held that the company had therefor committed a breach of tho award.

Mr Kirby: By lifting him from 30s a month to £4 a month, your Honor 1 Mr Jones contended that tho a.ward must bo strictly adhered to. Mr S. Brown: It is the first time I have ever heard a complaint of too much wages being paid! Mr Justice Chapman =aid that twelve months’ service at sea was not the qualification referred to by the award—tho qualification was one of merit. A cadet could be promoted at any time on the recommendation of tho chief steward. There was nothing in that that varied , with the hest interests of the union. The charge w-as dismissed. The Court will sit again tins morn J ing.