ARBITRATION COURT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12411, 22 March 1911, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

(Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., last night. | The Arbitration Court concluded its sitting to-day. The first case was an appeal from the decision of Mr Thomson, S.M., m the case of Charles Lennox, flaxmiller, Foxton, for employing men after one o'clock on Saturday. The Magistrate held that the clause of the award need not necessarily apply piece workers. Against this decision the Flaxworkers' Union appealed. Judgment was reserved. The chief business was hearing the application of the shear-ing-shed hands for an award. At present there is no award governing these hands. They sought to bring m an award similar m many respects to the shearers' award, and making the minimum wage £2 and rations. Against this the Sheep Owners' Federation of New Zealand proposed a counter award m which pressers are to receive 27s 6d and other shed Avorkers 25s and found. The owners hold that the men's claim amounted to £2 15s a week and included Maori girls and youths. The owners also desire that all owners who shear less than 2500 sheep be excluded from the award, that employers shall have the right to require hands to fill m spare time, by performing other duties than those connected with shearing operations or shed work, also that members of employers' families, permanent employees, or children of Maori parentage under 16 years, he not affected by the award ; also that youths and Maori girls may be employed at 18 years of age for 15s per week, over 18 and under 20 at 20s per week and board and lodging, and cooks 355. All these clauses are opposed by Mr Laracy, on behalf of the Union. Mr Nivens, Wairarapa, a member of the Council of the Federated Sheep Owners, and Mr H. D. Acland, ef Christchurch, president, gave evidence for the sheep owners, for whom Mr Pryor conducted the case. Judgment wna reserved.