ARBITRATION COURT.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13583, 26 November 1912, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

NELSON, MONDAY, Nov. ,25, 1912

'Before His Honour Mr. Justice Sim, find Messrs. W. Scots and J. A. MeCullough, assessors.)

NELSON LABOURERS' DISPUTE

The Nelson Labourers Union lodged a formal objection to the agreement arrived at by the assessors .at the sitting of the Conciliation Council in the dispute between the Nelson Labourers' Union and the employers in order that the agreement be made into an award.

Mr. J. Ingram appeared for-the Nelson. Labourers' Union, Mr. F. A. Bamford for the Employers' Association, and Mr. J. G. Littlejohn for the City Council.

Mr. Ingram asked that an award be made in terms of the agreement. Mr. Bamford intimated that the employers had no 'objection, but he asked that a clause relating to unskilled labour be inserted. ■

His Honour asked if anything had been agreed upon by the parties in the Court in regard to unskilled labour.

Mr. Bamford said the matter was discussed and practically agreed to. Mr. Ingram said that when the matter was discussed by tho assessors it was thought wise to cut out the clause, and some twenty or thirty people who were affected by the clause were struck out of the list of persons cited. He said there was.no such term as unskilled labour in the Act.

Mr. Bamford aisfked wliafi was the definition between skilled and unskilled labour?

His Honour said that under tho agreement a rate of wages was fixed for certain work. Any workers who did not come within tho description could bo paid what was agreed upon. Mr. Bamford saitl in that case the Employers' Association would not persist in'their request for the insertion of tho clause.

Mr. Littlejohn t.i;mplained that no notice had1 been sent to tho City Council of the recommendations of tho Oonciliation Council.

His Honour said that if the Council desired to see the recommendations, it should have applied t« the Clerk of Awards. "You don't object to pay the same wages as contractors., do you?" asked his Honour.

Mr. Littlejohn: No, your Honour. The President: Our experience is that local bodies are prepared to pay much higher wages than factories. The application was then granted.