ARBITRATION COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT

BUTCHERS’ DISPUTE. INCREASED WAGES SOUGHT. DECISION RESERVED. (Pie United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 23. The butchers’ dispute was heard by the Arbitration Court to-day. The only points on which the decision of the court was sought were regarding wages and the term of the award. Mr A. W. Croskery, for the union, said the case was the cleaning up of butchers’ awards for the dominion, as Wellington was the only centre not enjoying the ruling rate, as the union had not had an opportunity of appealing before the court for 16 months He asked that no reduction should be made after the award had been filed. The increase in weakly wages sought was 8s 6d. Mr Grenfell, for the employers, said that Mr Croskery had apparently overlooked tile fact that the workers had been receiving a bonus while waiting for the court. He submitted that the rates in the old award should bo renewed. The President said that it was generally recognised that the grunting of higher wages had temporarily, at any rate, come to a stop. Everyone knew that industry was not yet stable, and that everything depended on the price of primary products. It was the fortune of war that some unions had received the benefits of increases before others. Tho court would find itself faced with a serious difficulty if it tried to make a general rule that unions which obtained an award after a certain date were to be exempt from the provisions of any subsequent decisions. Respecting the term of tho award his Honor was inclined to think that it did not matter whether it was long or short. Decision was reserved.