ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17292, 18 April 1918, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

Ihe Arbitration Court—His Honor Mr •lustico tilringir (prcsidoiui, and Messrs W. .Scott .aiul AI. J, Keardon —continued its Mt-t-ing yesterday morning. TARATU COAL MINERS. Mr J. (J. Arbueklu appeared for the union u,l y. Mr A. C. Cookson lor tlio employers. Mi- Arbueklo said a partial agreement jinx.l been co;i)o to boloru tlio Conciliation Council. Future working at the Taratu id mo would 1)0 lower down than tlio prosent seam, which was estimated to last about six months. The new eeam would ho harder lo work and it would be harder to earn the wages previously earned. Tlio agi cement at J.aratu was & verbal one, Mr Cookson .said that on April 4, 1916, a verbal arrangement was made between the proprietors and (lie men for a 10 per cent, war bonus, subjcct to all conditions and rates remaining as they were. Jn Novembor, 1910, the management met a deputation from the men, who asked for some alterations in tho conditions. They were told their request would not bo granted, as tho agreement was for tho duration of tho war. At a conference in Wellington in May, 1917, between the Coal Miners' Fedoration and the representatives of the mineowners an understanding was reached that, subject to the working conditions in tlio mines remaining as at present the employers would pay an additional bonus of 10 per cent, and V a per cent. On Juno 13, 1917, an offer was made to tho Taratu miners of an additional war bonus of 10 per cent, on wages and 7i per cent, to picco workers, subject to existing conditions. This was accepted, and the proprietors had copies of the existing conditions typed and sent to tho union to be signed. The union, however, refused to sign tho agreement. The management started paying the extra bonus on June 18, and was still paying it. In reply to epics),ions Mr Arbueklo said tne additional war bonus was paid without any arrangement with the men at all. J he President: You moan to ask the court to believe that this extra bonus was paid to the miners without the understanding by tho management that it was carrying out ail arrangement already come to? Mr Arbuckle: It was practically agreed br the management and the union that they would proceed to Uie court as to conditions, and that as far as the bonus was concerned they were prepared! to accept Hi, per cent. Evidence -was given by James Thomson (secretary of tho union), Robert Penman (president of the Kaitangata Miners' Union),and George 11. Cheoseman (general manager of the Taratu Company). The President said tho court was quita satisfied that an arrangement was made. It was quite clear that tho whole thing was done quite formally and in order. " Tho court thought tho men should have carried tho agreement into effect. They were wrong not to sign. That being so, it would, in the court's opinion, bo a gross breach of faith to attempt now to ecouro some more favourable conditions with regard to tho various matters covered by tho agreement. There was only one point that there miijht bo some ground for dissatisfaction. That was with regard to the rate to he paid for tlio fresh opening out of the old seam. It was qiute impossible for _ tho court to Ray what was tho true position. It teemed that the best way to deal with tho position would be to leavo it to (he union and the management to endeavour to come to some arrangement on tho point when the new works were opened out. If tho parties failed to come to an arrangement the court reserved the right to make a supplemental award. In all other respects tho court considered that the agreement aire ark- arrived at should be embodied in an award. SHIFT ENGINEERS (ELECTRIC POWER HOUSE. In this dispute no recommendation was come to before tho Conciliation Court. Mr Doig appeared lor the employees and Mr Lowin for the City Council. Mr Lowin i-aiscd a preliminary objection whether the court had jurisdiction to deal with tho dispute, because the workers were already covered by the electrical workers' award. Ho also raised one or other technical points.

Mr Doig maintained that the emploveea wero not elcctrical workers —they wer© engineers, and wero members of. amalgamated Socicty of Engineers.' The court decided to hear the dispute. Mr Doig said the only clause in disputo referred to wages. He drew attention to tho importance and responsibility involved in their employment at tho converter station.

William Davis Richards, William L. Dodd (for tho employees), and Matthew 0. Henderson (clectrical engineer) gavo evidence. Tho court said it would give its decision in duo course.