ARBITRATION COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9194, 25 March 1908, Page 1

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE BAKERS' DISPUTE. [Per ' Press Association.] ' WELLINGTON, March 24. The hearing of the bakers' dispute was begun at the Arbitration Court today. In this case the Conciliation Board had made recommendations which the employers declined to accept. They provided for a week of fortyeigiit hours, the time of commencing to be not earlier than 4 a.m. save on "days following one or two holidays, when the hour should be 3 a.m. or 2 a.m. according to circumstances. ] Among other provisions of the recommendation were wages as follows: — Foreman, £3 os per week; any man save foreman working over, £3 ; others, £2 lCte ; jobbers, 11s per day. j Mr Westbrooke, for the men's Union. ! pointed out that in the country districts where the Conciliation Board had sat the master bakers had been fully represented. . At each place a conference had been held and certain claims agreed to. Mr Kellow, on behalf of the employers, said that the Wellington master bakers had not appeared before the Board at all at the country places. The Court was asked to deal with the dispute only as it affected Wellington and the suburbs. The only difference was in respect to wages. He asked a reduction of 2s 6d on the minimum in all classes of work. He ateo claimed that the employer should be allowed to < do any part or the work in the bake- ' house he wished. He objected to the extra holiday claimed for the picnic. In stating the case for the Union, Mr Westbroo'ke 6aid that it had been a standing grievance with the bakers that they had to work longer and more inconvenient hours than any other class. If the registration of the Union was cancelled, they would come under the Factories Act, and would get an eight hours' day. The men could also demand the wages they were at present getting and more. He contended that, even if the result of the demands was a slight increase in the price of bread, the public would rather pay than have the workers sweated. The Court will sit in the country districts to hear further evidence.