ARBITRATION COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1012, 10 May 1917, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

CMISTCHURCH SITTING. OPENED THIS MORNING. The Arbitration Court opened its sittings in Ghristchurch this morning. His Honour Mr Justice Stringer presided, and with him on the bench were Messrs J. Scott (employers' assessor) and J. A. McCullough (employees' assessor). AWARDS MADE. In the Canterbury Motor Car and Horse Drivers' dispute, Mr 11. Hunter (for the union) asked that the agreement be made into an award. The only alteration from the old award, he explained, was in respect of wages. The application was granted. On the application of Mr 11. F. Ellis the recommendations of the Conciliation Council in respect to the Canterbury Manure, Tallow, and Soap Workers' dispute were made into an award, with the reservation that the court would look into the preference clause to see that it did not transgress the ruling of the Court of Appeal. In the Canterbury Woollen Mills' dispute, Mr H. C. Revell, on behalf of the union, asked that the agreement be made into an award. The application, which was supported by Mr T. R. Leithead, on behalf of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, was granted.

TANNERS AND FELLMONGERS. In respect to the Canterbury Tanners' and Fellmongers' award, an application for a verbal alteration was granted, both parlies being in agreement. A COMPENSATION CASE. In the compensation case of Campbell v. H.M. the King, Mr J. J. Dougall asked that the matter stand down. The Crown Solicitor, he said, had informed him that the case would probably be settled. CARPENTERS' DISPUTE. The hearing of the Canterbury Carpenters' and Joiners' dispute and the Timaru Carpenters' and Joiners' dispute was fixed for 10 a.m. tomorrow. An application was made by the New Zealand Refrigerating Company for exemption from this award. Frederick John Needham, representing the company, said that three carpenters were continuously employed by the company. They were employed purely for maintenance. Any building extension was done almost exclusively by contract. The carpenters were paid the award rates and had the award hours. He knew of no cases where the men had suffered injury through working in the freezing chambers. There was no dirty work for carpenters at Islington. The new conditions would be very vexatious if the company had to observe them. His Honour said the Court would look into the matter. Mr J. Sharpe, clerk to the Waimairi County Council, applied for exemption from the award. The application was granted. Mr R. C. Bishop applied for exemption for the Gas Company, except as regarded wages and overtime. Only one carpenter was. employed. His Honour promised that the Court would consider the matter. DRAPERS' DISPUTE. In the Christchurch Retail Drapers' Assistants' dispute, Mr P.. \V. Martin, on behalf of the union, asked for an adjournment till next week. The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday next. REFUSAL TO REGISTER. Mr F. Ellis appeared on behalf of the Canterbury Federation of Unions Industrial Association of Workers in an appeal against the refusal of the Registrar to register the body. His Honour: I have read the application, Mr Ellis. Are you not challenging the judgment of this Court? Have we not held that this cannot be done? Mr Ellis said the organisation had been in existence since 19.08 and had been classified under the Unclassified Societies Act. His Honour said the aims of the association could surely be met by agreement. Mr Ellis: We want registration as a corporate body. Trades councils could register.

His Honour said that if such an application' came before the Court, the Court would have to see that the former judgment was complied with. In reply to Mr Ellis, His Honour said the association would have to seek an amendment to either the Unclassified Societies Act or the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. II would be for the association to ask Parliament if it would allow such an association of unrelated industries. Personally, His Honour did not think such an association should be permitted. His Honour saw no reason why the association should not be registered under the Incorporated Societies Act. The Court had held that such associations must be of related industries. His Honour advised Mr Ellis to seek a legislative amendment. Mr R. W. Martin asked if the Court would hear an appeal from the decision of the Registrar in refusing an amendment lo the drapers' assistants rules to permit of the union taking in other retail assistants. The Registrar held that assistants in soft-goods and fancy, and stationery departments were not in related industries. His Honour: Do yon say they are? Mr Martin: We say very strongly they are. His Honour: Surely il is objectionable in the same way as the previous case. Mr Martin: No sir. He said that in large establishments there were all these departments, and assistants were continually being changed from one department to another. His Honour said he could not see why the difficulty could not be met in the awards. After hearing Mr Martin further, las Honour promised that the Court would consider the matter.