LABOUR ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 9 May 1901, Page 3

LABOUR ITEMS.

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Per Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. At the Aribtration Court this morning, the Furniture Union applied for enforcement of an award against Strange and Co., who were employing upholsterers at less than the minimum wage, although no permit had been granted. It appeared that a man according to an agreement made before the award was given served four years with another firm and left last year for Strange's at 35s per week. It was contended by the Union that the term of apprenticeship must be five years, and a permit to work for less than the minimum wage was refused on this account. The Court held that a technical breach had been committed, but considered that the permit had been wrongfully withheld, and a fine of Is was imposed. The application for the enforcement of the award in connection with the plumbing trade had to be -withdrawn from the Ar-bitration-Court to-day, as the Union had not gone through the formalities set forth in Section 98 of the amending Act. It provides for a special meeting to consider the question of reference and for a subsequent ballot, as well as for notices being posted to members. The Court to-day interpreted the apprentice clause in the furniture trade to mean

that the term of apprenticeship shall be five years, but that the award does not affect arrangements entered into before the award was made. To-morrow the butchers' case will come on again. The Court proposes to adopt the Wellington award, and the employers have been called upon- to show why, if they object that the conditions in Christchurch are different from those in Wellington. Mr Justice Cooper will not be able to finish all the disputes here before leaving for Dunedin on Monday, and some will be held over until his return.