THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12411, 28 November 1908, Page 4

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

PRIVATE HOTELS AND CLUBS. AN APPLICATION REFUSED. (Special to "The Colonist.". Christchurch, Nov 26. An application was made at the Arbitration Court sittings this morning .by the Hon J. Barr on behalf of the Hotel Employers' Union to join employers in private hotels and clubs as parties to the award. The application was opposed by Mr H. Broadhead 911 behalf of the proprietors of private hotels, and by Messrs. J. Bickerton Fisher and H. J. Beswick - (solicitors) on behalf 0$ the various clubs. IZVXr Barr <53n<j-aix-«Mi wlaetfaor, ihe .Itpo counsel could appear 'in the case and^ this matter was discussed for some' little time without a definite ruling ibeing given. His Honor pointed out that under the. ne_w Act which" was to come into force on Jan- : ua,r.y . Ist, clubs, would not be subject tg' an award as they were not carrying on business for profit: >„*■ 'Mr Barr : A very good reason to x haye_ the Act amended. ' . His Honor : I don't think it is Ijkely to bo amended; I think Parliament will let it alone. ? Mr Barr : Clubs compete with h6tels for boarders, and that is for profit. His Honor said that they did not carry that on as a business as far as he knew. A member of the club might have to pay calls, but he never got any dividends. , Mr Barr submitted that they might make a profit out of their boarders .His Honor: You have to look at the whole operations of the club. It does not exist for the purpose of making a profit. * Mr Barr : It exists for the pleasure of its members. His Honor assented. Mr Barr : Through their pleasure they derived profit. His Honor: I have never heard of one getting a dividend yet. j Mr Beswick said that only particu-lar-members of the-club were allowed to use the bedrooms, , and they were not run for .profit." "'"' ' , Mr Barr said that the Union was aware that club employees worked all hours although they wore working for pleasure. Apparently they shpuld have some consideration^ Mr Fisher said that the employees in' the club he represented -were against the application. The application did not emanate from them. Mr Barr: I dispute that. His Honor said that clubs had always been exempted from awards in the~past. ■ * •■'■■■ This was confirmed by Mr Brown, the employers' representative. His Honor suggested that clubs did not underpay their servants if there was a difference they would have some difficulty in getting men. ' Mr Barr replied that there were slack seasons, although iii a btisy season a servant could get decent conditions. He had to take, whatever he could get in the slack time.' His Honor: Do you suggest the clubs sweat them? • Mr Barr: They don't treat' them as decently as the hotels are forced to do. Seventy hours or over in a club is slightly different from sixtyfiverin a hotel. After consultation his Honor announced that the Court could not make an order joining the clubs in view, of the provision of the new Act exempting clubs, and the fact that clubs had always been exempted from previous awards.