ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13896, 7 May 1907, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

CASK AGAINST TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES.

(Peh United Phess Association.) . . AUCKLAND. May 6. W? mS i ? lf , of ' k ' t"mway troubles in Auckland Inst November, when the «er-"lM-lUSp,n"/,,e(l ,f or sovw ® l lioins, hjdnij Michael larrellv (tramway motornan) and Edward Fletcher (conductor) ure charged before the Arbitration Court to-day with having taken part iu a. move"mil which was intended lo produce a Strike 01- lockout. They pleaded "Guilty." I'Opresenrative of the inspector of awards said that the movement was not supported by the union. There were 31 niotonnen and 35 conductors who struck work.

Mr Prendergast, in addressing the court tor mitigation of penalty, slated that the enforcement of arbitrary rules at the companys lonsonby depot and the dismissal ot an employee without a hearing, as the men believed, led the men to believe tlicy might. lx> similarly treated. The conduct o the men was quite apart, from any action of On- union, and was not countenanced by it.. There was no question of striking at tirst. It was simply done in an impulsive way. tor instance, trouble had been brewing during the day, and four cars happening to be standing in Queen street, tho motorinan of one of'them gave up Hie controller handle, stating that "he was ill Immediately | ;o l,.ft th P car t|, c erow( j hoisted him shoulder high, and he was taken to the three other cars, the luotornien of which were told to leave un<lcr pain oh being called " blacklegs," ' and other epithets. ]t would require more than ordinary mci'al ecurago to continue duty under such circumstances, and the men left. The crowd interfered so much with Ihe men who remained on duly that the protection of the police had to ho secured. He submitted that the aclion of the company on November 14- was very reprehensible The componv knew I hero was discontent, and that a resolution had been pa'sed in regard to the teaching of learners, 'yet in face of all this, and not acting in a bona fide manner, because tliev had no learners ready, they went to different men looking for trouble, and asked if they would take learners. When they refused tbey were discharged. If the comnany had actcd in a more tactful manner all the trouble would have been averted. Ho asked that the respondents lie treated in a lenient manner. They wore not supported by their union, and should he fined, not as the representatives of a class, but. for their own individual misdeed?. Accused nleadcd guilty, and the court reserved judgment. AUCKLAND SLAUGHTERMEN'S • DISPUTE. (Per United Pp.eSs Association.) AUCKLAND, May 6. The president of tho Arbitration Court, suggested to tli(> parties in Ihe Auckland slaughtermen's dispute that iu new of ihe publication of the Gisborne award on agreement might bo arranged. It was stated that the' employees arc lo consider the Gi«borne award this evening. Mr Rust, representing the Butchers' Union, asked that the butchers' award terminating in June. 1009, be annulled, with a view to bringing into lino the southern awards.. The president replied that he could not go into that matter. If the court had made an award without jurisdiction, the remedy was .for Ihe parties to apply to the Supreme Court for a writ of prohibition. Mr Bust withdrew his application. TYPOGRAPHICAL AWARD. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. May 6. The president of the Arbitration Court has given an interpretation oi .the award in the typographical trade, as far as it concerns Wellington, to the effect that jobbing compositors are entitled to be paid a weekly wage of £3, without any deduction for holidays spccilicd under the award. •

BOOKBINDERS' AWARD. (Per. United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 6. The Arbitration Court adopted an agreement between tile Bookbinders, Paperrulers, and Cutters' Union and the employers. Its main provisions are:—A week ot 48 hours. Competent journeymen rulers and binders to get £3 a week; first cutters, 555; second cutters. 5Qs 6d; third cutters, 37s 6d; other cutters, 30s; cutter taken off guillotine work to do journeymen binders' work, £3 a week for the time so occupied; casual labour, Is 4Jd an hour. Overtime it time nnd a-quarier. Double time on Sundays, Christmas Day. and Good Friday. Time and the live annual holidavs. Apprentices, 7s 6d a week the first vcar,' 10s 6d the second year, 15s the third'. 20) the fourth, 25s the fifth, and 30s the sixth year. INTERPRETATION OF FELTIIATTKRS' AWARD. The following interpretation of section 1 of the award, "dated Bth March, 1907, has been <iiven bv the court: — Clause 2 of the above-mentioned award directs, inter alia, that "the workers shall be weekly servants, and shall be paid at tlio rale of not. less than £3 per week for a week of 48 hours." Question (1): Doss this mean a weekly employment ? Answer: The clause means that there is to be a weekly employment. Question (2): Does it mean that no deduction can bs mado from wages for broken time?

Answer: The worker is to be paid at tlio rate of not less than £3 per week for a wec-k of 4S hours. lie is not entitled to be paid for holidays, or for days on which, through sickness or otber similar cause. lip is not at work; but ho is entitled to bo paid for days on which he is ready to work but bis employer does jiot give hiffl asy. jyoik tq jloj