ARBITRATION COURT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11126, 15 November 1907, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, last night. When the Arbitration Court met today it was stated a conference had failed to* arrive at an amicable agreement m the cooks' and waiters' dispute. It was arranged that the Court shall hear the dispute to-morrow. Mr Pavor, for the employers, said he had been told the Union intended calling a. great number of witnesses whose absence from employment to attend- Court threatened serious inconvenience. Mr Carey, for the Union, said it was intended to minimise tlie inconvenience as far as possible. Mr Justice Sim said success did not. depend on the number of witnesses called 1 , but on the force of their arguments. The Court proceeded to hear the dispute between the Butchers' Union and their employers. The Union asked . for "dry" pay instead of so much per week and found. Wages asked' for represented an increase all round of five shillings per week. This rise was asked for because of the increase m the cost of living. Mr Brown asked what "dry" pay included. Mi* Cooper said tlie men asked for five shillings' worth of meat, but were willing to accept five shillings m cash instead. The Union also asked for reduction ,of hours from 56 'to 50 per week. F,ive witnesses gave evidence on behalf of the Union's claims, and two on behalf of country employers. Mr Grenfell, for the employers, said first shopmen were now receiving equal to £3 15s per week, whilst the lowest paid adult except, drivers out got equal to £2 10a. The employers asked that first shopmen should receive £3. second £2. 105, small goods men £2 15s, general hands £2 Is, and riderg out if over 21 yeare of' age £1 2s 6d. They also wanted an allowance of five shillings' worth meat to apply only to ( married men. Fifty-six hours weekly were necessary to carry on this business. The employers objected strongly to preference to unionists. Five "witnesses were heard-, and His Honor intimated that the further hearing of the case would be taken at Napier and Palmerston. commencing at Palmerston on the 22nd inst.