ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT.

The Arbitration Court, commenced its sittings in Dunedin on tho 23rd. His HonorMr Justice Stringer presided, and had associated with him Messrs W. Scott and J A. M'Cullough. Among the business transacted was the following-: GOLDMINERS' DISPUTE. In the Otago and- Southland Goldminers' dispute a complete recommendation was filed, except with regard to tho term of the award. —Air Cookson, on behalf of the employers, asked for an alteration in the clauso referring to holidays, the substitution by agreement of any two days in Christmas week for January 1 and 2. —The court decided that tho award be made, to como into force on June 5. ENGINE-DRIVERS. In the Otago engine-drivers' dispute a complete recommendation was made.—Mr Haymcs, on behalf of the union, asked that the award should como into force from May 29.—Mr Cookson asked for tho exemption of the Otago Harbour Board, so far as its pumping plant was concerned, and the Now Zealand Sugar of Milk Company.—The first application was agreed to, and the other was held over for consideraExemption was granted to the Kaikorai and Roslyn Tram Companies. It was ■decided that the award como into force on June 5. IRON AND BRASS MOULDERS. In the Otago Iron and Brass Moulders' dispute, _ Mr Cookson said that the only matter in dispute was a clause which tho masters wished inserted in connection with piece work, but Mr A. Rosser intimated that the union jn-oposed to take an unusual step. At a special meeting- it had been unanimously decided to withdraw the ease from the court. At the Conciliation Council the assessors had agreed to the insertion of a provision which the union had not had an opportunity of considering, and to which it strenuously objected. Mr Rosser read tho terms of the proposal, which in effect provided for the employment of unskilled labour where the union was unable within seven days' notice to provide skilled labour, these men to work under certain conditions_ at under-rate wages, rising during a period of three years to tho minimum journeyman wage. _ Mr Rosser said that this constituted an innovation so far as tho trade was concerned, and indeed was an innovation regarding- any trade, though something like tho provision had lately been made in the boot-making trade in Wellington, providing for returned soldiers being engaged. In opposing tho proposal the union fully realised the gravity of the situation. It was fraught with peril to all the skilled trades in the dominion. In tho skilled trades the only entrance was provided by means of apprenticeship, and in this particular trade the period of apprenticeship was five years, in addition to which two years might bo required as an improver, at reduced rates, making practically seven years' apprenticeship. The proposed clause would open a door for a three years' apprenticeship for unskilled labour. 'There wore phases of the trade in which unskilled men might become fairly expert, such as fire-bars and tho commoner products of the iron moulders, and in those, were the proposal adopted, unskilled men might displace skilled labour. The union regarded tiro proposal as a strategical point by the employers to provide an entrance into a skilled trade by workers who had not served an apprenticeship. If the proposal were agreed to it would follow that similar applications would bo made in tho other iron trades when tho time came along, and also in other industries. The union proposed to withdraw the dispute and commence do novo at some future time. Mr Cock-son said it did not seem reasonable because one clause was. found objectionable by the union that the whole thing should bo torn up. Skilled workers seemed to bo sufficiently protected by tho fact that a boy, who learned quicker than a man, required seven years • to learn the trade ; unskilled men were not likely to displace journeymen. Tho men were not going to be put to skilled work if tho union was in a position to supply skilled work. His Honor said that the court had held on several previous occasions that a union which raised a dispute could withdraw it from the court. Ho proceeded to point out that there were already, and would shortly be, increased difficulties regarding the shortago of skilled labour. The probabilities were that this difficulty would become very acute. It certainly seemed that some effort should be mado to meet the position. The court would have to do something if the parties did not. Tho case was withdrawn. ENGINEERS' AWARD. Considerable time was occupied in consideration of the question of whether Messrs Turnbull and Jones should be mado a party to the Otago and Southland engineers' award. For the firm it was submitted that on two previous occasions they had been exempted, and the conditions had not changed. The union, however, was granted permission to adduce proof that the firm should come under the award. Eventually the court: dismissed tho application, His Honor stating that it really seemed to be a case of trade jealousy —whether a man was an engineer or an electrical engineer—no questions of wages or hours being involved. SADDLER S' DISPUTE. Tho dispute between the Otago and Southland Saddlers, Harness, Collar, Lag, and C'overmakers Union of Workers, and the employers engaged in the trade was heard on the 26th. Exemption was granted to Alex. Thompson and J. M'Grath and Co. A similar application by E. Grave (Oamaru) | was objected to, and the court said tho

onus rested upon the union of proving tnis employer a saddler. Mr Breen said that of all skilled trades the saddlers stood alone as the poorest paid in the dominion. Three years ago rue union applied for a new award, but when the case came before tlxe Conciliation Commissioner the assessors were informed that there was no possible hope of receiving more than Is 2d an hour, as the saddlers in Auckland had accepted that wage. The court had ruled, as far back as 1911, that skilled workers who had to servo an apprenticeship of five years should not receive less than Is 3d an hour. At present Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury saddlers had disputes filed, so that the court could ck.cide wuat should bo the minimum wage in- this trade for the whole of the dominion. Through no fault of their own, the Dunedin saddlers had been compelled to accept Id an hour loss than any other skilled tradesmen in the dominion —the same wage, in fact, as was paid the lowest-paid unskilled workers. An increase from Is 2d_ to Is 6d an hour (the union’s demand) might seem a big jump, but ho submitted that, had the saddlers received a fair deal, their wage would have been not less than la an hour. Evidence was given by George Thomas Gillies, Efnest L. Birt, Riddle, and E. Rowlett. Mr A. S. Cookson, who represented the employers, said the employers were prepared to prove'that the saddlery trade was a languishing one. The fact that the workers had not secured higher rates of pay proved that the trade was not in a position to pay higher wages. The President remarked that they wore not bound by any offer, but it was put forward as an element towards forming a conclusion. Mr Cookson said the employers were prepared to have the rates raised to Is 3d an hour, which was practically 10 per cent., and to make that a permanent increase, provided the other conditions wore accepted under the old award. They had no objection to the rules for apprentices being adopted. No reason had been put forward why the hours should be shortened. Evidence was given by Henry Thomas Trevcna (who said that last year there had been a 40 per cent, reduction in the volume of trade), John W. Dance, and B. Hatfield. The President intimated that the court would consider the matter. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. The compensation case between Laura Turnbull and George Peterson, master painter (both of Gore), was mentioned—a widow’s claim for £SOO in respect of the death of her husband in the employment of defendant, .allegedly through injuries sustained in a fall from steT«t that broke under him. Mr A. S. Adams said that this case had been settled for a trifling sum of £25. Ho would ask for an order for the payment of this sum direct to the widow.