TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2676, 28 June 1905, Page 29

TRADES AND LABOUR.

LONDON, June 20. , The Labour leaders recognise that the recent decision of the High Court .aas knocked the vital principle out of the Arbitration Act. They are pondering steps to secure an amendment of the act.

NEW YORK, June 21. The Chicago strike is ending, the team? sters haying been defeated.

SYDNEY, June 23.

The miners at Hebburn colliery, who refused a reduction in wages, have been ousted by free labourers under police protection. A hostile demonstration was made on their arrival.

INTERPRETING AN AWARD.

TIMARU, June 21.

At the Magistrate's Court to-day two civil suits (test oases) were founded upon disputed interpretations of an award" of the Arbitration Court affecting employment about threshing-mills in South Canterbury. A man who had been paid 25s a week as water-cart man claimed" 15s a week more under the clause of the award fixing 10d per hour as one form and rate of pay for mill hands. The defence was that a waterman was not counted among the mill hands, and was always paid by the week, as he has horses to look after, and neither waterman nor weekly engagements were mentioned in the award. The Magistrate- gave judgment for the defendant, as the award did not prohibit nor regulate weekly engagements. The second case was founded on a clause in the award that "bagmen" are to be paid 2s per 1000 more than other hands. This rule was made at Waimate. where two bagmen are employed, and evidence given, that it was not intended to apply if three bagmen were employed as is the case in the Timaru district, where plaintiff worked a_ one of three. It was also stated that where three men worked they had been content •with the same pay as others, with the exception of plaintiff. The S.M. adjourned his decision for a week, and suggested thaij the opinion of the Arbitration Court bs obtained in the meantime, as the claasct; does not limit the number of bagmen to whom it is to apply.

The Bruce Herald says that the state of the health of Mi Henry Claik, of Clarksviile ; «,. causing his relatives amch ansietj;.