Conciliation and Arbitration

Southland Times, Issue 19035, 1 May 1903, Page 2

Conciliation and Arbitration

TIFE MAN WHO IS ABOVE THE LAW. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. April :*'>. A deputation from tho Trades' Coiinril and tho Stationary Enginedrivoru" Union wailed on the Premier this evening and complained that llio award of the Arbitration. Court in tho dispute beiwccn the drivers utid employers was unfair to the workers, particularly in regard to hours of labour a-nd the classification of certificates. It was alleged that engine-drivers at some dairy factories were working seventy hours weekly. The Premier said the only remedy wus lo get a !>etter award next time. lie did not see why the Court had come to the conclusion it had, and ho thought the Court was in error. However, what he had. heard was ex pnrte, and there might he another side to the question. He would ask the Minister of Marine to get a report from the inspectors of machinery as to evasions of the law in granting certificates and placing toys in charge of engines. The Premier then made some remarks, concerning the furniture trade trouble in Auckland It looked to him suspiciously like a lock-out when men were Middonly found to bo incompetent to earn the wage awarded by the Court. It appeared that the fact of 70 men having been refused employment had been overlooked. An amendment of the law was necessary to provide against a repetition of what had occurred. CIiULST.OHURGU, April IM). The Arbitration Court sat this niornI ing to enquire, into tho euginertrivors' am! firemen's dispute, but after ltelluriuary proceedings adjourned to allow of an agreement, being come to between tho parties regarding certain clauses in the Union's demands.