ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12445, 30 August 1902, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE DISPUTE IX THE TIMBER TRADE. Fins't Day.

The Arbitration Court sat yesto/day morning to hear the dispute in the timber trade. His Honor Mr Justice Cooper presided, supported by Messrs S. Brown and R. Slater. The parties to the dispute were the Otago Timber Yards and Sawmills Industrial Union and the Sawinillcrs and Timber Merchants of Otago. The dispute was referred to the Conciliation Board in the first place by tlio union. The- award of the board was rejected by the other side, who referred the matter to the Arbitration Court. Mr J. C. Thomson appeared to conduct the case fbr the employers, who were represented by Messrs 11. V. Haddock (John Murdoch and Co.), J. C. Thomson (Thomson, and Co,), E. Broad (Dunedin Timber and Hardware Company), A. M'Cftllum (M'Callum and Co.), B. H. Nees (H. F. Noes and Co.), Ti. W. Bricltell (Alliance Box Factory), and J. Wilkinson (Wilkinson and Co.). Messrs V. H. Warren, W. Garbntt, and J. M. Barrett appeared for the union, Mr Thomson, on being called on to proceed, said tlio employers'were prtpared to accept the award of the board in respect to the greater part of their recommendations, but they took exception to the clauses relating to hours ot work, minimum wage, and preference to unionists. _ He was prepared to submit that the Factories Act defined the week's work. The court had also laid down that 48 hours comprised a week's work in the sawmillnig industry. The president: That is scarcely correct, Mr Thomson. The Factories Act defines the maximum. In tie sawmilling industry in Wellington 40J hours was fixed by the court, and in Christ-church 45.

Mr Thomson remarked that the question was very important when it came to a matter of overtime. In one branch of the sawmilling industry the court had already decided the week should be 48 hours.

Tlio President; That is in regard to country mills.

Mr Thomson said that the point they desired to make was that the yard work was different from sawmilling, in the country. The timber was already cut, tho work continuous, and there were no stoppages except for. repairs, boiler inspection, etc. In the factory the sharpening of the tools was done in the employers' time, whilo in the sawmills it was dono in the men's time. Mr Thomson went on to compare the demands with rates paid in the north, and concluded by objecting to the preference clause. John Wedderspoon, employed by John Murdoch and Co., said he thought it would take a man 12 or 18 months to become a competent sawyer, A man who paid attention to his work could acquire sufficient knowledge in that time. Cross-cut sawing required a little experience and skill, especially in a factory. A man might become an efficient machinist in from two to three years. The man in charge of the planing machine was the principal mnchinest, To Mr Warren: Witness was a practical journeyman. In tho Old Country ho could rcniehibsr that an apprenticeship was served before a man could become a sawyer. John Marshall, mill managor for Thomson, Bridgcr, and Co., said ho had had 25 years' experience, and could put up any machine in the factory, If a. men had 12 months behind the saw, a year in .front ought to make him a competent sawyer. About two years should qualify him to look after tho saws. He never knew there was such a thing as apprenticeship to sawing. He believed that more skill was required for pit sawing. If a man could not become a competent sawyer in two years lie would not do it in seven. A man might become a planer in 18 months, and learn to set up his machine in tv.-o years. To Mr Warren: Witness was a joiner by profession, and had served; an apprenticeship of six years. Witness never heard of an accident in pit sawing. Jesse Minn also gave evidence. W. Garbutt, called by Mr Thomson, said he was till iccontly president of the union, which had 80 to SO members, He declined to state -whether all the members were financial: that was a question which might be put to tho secretary. He had been in the employment of M'Callum and Co. for three years. He was quite satisfied with the work.

Mr Thomson: Aro you, satisfied with the pay?

Witness: Not if I can got more,— (Laughter). Do you think you are worth more? _ Witness: Yes,-according to tho stale of the times, I think I am.

To Mr Warren: Witness received 9s a day, and was getting steady wages. He thought that as conditions had imprpved he ought to share in tho improved prosperity of tlio country.

Mr Wnrren, in opening for the union, said that they wero willing to accopt the hoard's finding for six months, till the expiry of another award, But now they were prepared l to go into the original statement. It had been slated by the employers that the hours of labour could not bo curtailed, but it had been shown by tho operation of the riew',factory net that tho employsn could rcduce the hours as it suited them to do ho, Hi: contended, in support of the increase asked for, that the workers should participate in the. improved industrial conditions, The holidays asked for were those fixed 1 by tho court in other cases. Evidence was givim by James GiUan, James Jones, and James Ruston, John Clisby, John Bowora, Lachlan Beatsou, Richard Robinsou, Samuel Dyer, Gareth Hcgan, and George Burnett. . . This closed the case for the union. William Murdoch was callod by Mr Thomson, r.nd sfsited that ho was in t-lie employ of Mr Brickell, whero lie had charge of the saws. He had only been there for 14 months. Mr Warren,, in reply, said he thought the evidence he had called would convince tho court l th?.t there, was nothing unreasonable in the demands of the union. In Melbourne the wayea in this trads wero higher than in New Zealand. The wages wero now lower than they had ever been. The increase asked for was a very small item, and he was sure n large amount of profit had been made in the timber trade lately. The price was now up to Us Gd, and the whola benefit was being gained bv the timber combine. As far as the Auckland award was concerned, it had bee.'i recognised for years that the standard of living was cheaper in Auckland.

Mr Thomson said that the evidence had been conflicting, but he thought it had been clearly shown that a knowledge of tho work was easily acquired, and in trad®: where a. long apprenticeship was neccssary it was conceded that a higher wage'should be given, This was not so in tlio sawmilling trade. The men proposed to work shorter hours and get higher wages, but the employers wire getting nothing in return : the men wore not going to work at higher pressure or show greater efficiency. Mr Noes claimed that the award did not cover sevoral of the machines in use. It was very unfair to classify certain men as competent machinists, because skill was not always reouried. In reply to the court, Mr Warren said he was informed that two-thirds of the men in tho trade Tyoro on the roll of tho union.

The court adjourned at 3.30 p.m., having decided to visit some of the mills in the city nest morning.