THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 27

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. CHRISTCHURCH. May 7. The Arbitration Court sat this morning to hr-ar tlie case of the Canterbury Bakers and Pastrycooks' Union against Frederick Schumacher and others for allogpd breaches of iho award. J. D. Phillips was alleged, when the award giving preference to unionists came into force, to havo omitted to discharge a non-unionist pmnloypo (Adams), and to replace, him by a unionist. His Honor stated that he did not think the court had ever held that the retention of a man engaged before the coining into force of tho award i-houM be considered a breach of the award. The union quoted two Canterbury cases in which they stated that Mr Justice Martin had ruled that a breach had been committed under precisely similar circumstances. Mr Russell, appearing for Phillips, said the question was the "biggest perhaps ever brought up tineo i heact came, into force. If the union's contention were allowe-d, -every employer would have to drive out men working for him who were not unionists as soon as the award was given. It wou'd affect all industrial progress throughout the colony. The facts set forth for the union were not disputed, and it was conceded that Phillips had always ignored the union's representations that he should dismiss the man. His Honor said the court would consider the question. Charges against Frederick Schumacher of taking on non-unionists after the award is proceeding. Shepherd was fined 10? and costs for employing non-unionists. The amount would have been larger, the president stated, had not the union asked for a nominal fine. Schumacher was fined 40s and costs for the same offence. This afternoon Frederick Williams, a master baker, was charged with allowing a late employee named Prj'i to commence I work before proper time. The case was

adjourned till to-morrow, as was the charge against Jame3 Norton of employing a nonunionist while unionists were out of employment.