ARBITRATION COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9790, 5 March 1910, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

A sitting of tho Arbitration Court was commenced at the Provincial Council Chambers this morning, Mr Justice Sim and Messrs R. Scott and J. M'Cullough presiding. EMPLOYERS ADDED TO AWARDS. Tho Canterbury Carpenters' and Joiners' Union, for which Mr Knott appsared, applied to have certain employers added to the Union's award. His Honor pointed out that all save three of the employers named in tho application were already parties to the award. Pie ordered that the application should stand over for revision. Tho application was brought forward again later in the day, when four of the llangiora employers appeared to oppose it. ' An order was made adding five firms to tho award, and exempting the Rangiora employers. An application by Mr Ellis that certain Timaru firms should bo added to the Traction Engine Workers' award was granted. An application was made by Mr Whiting that certain Timaru and Ashburton employers should be brought under the Christchurch Operati/e Bootmakers' award. Mr Brunt appeared on behalf of the Timaru employers, but said ho had just received instructions to represent them, and was not aware of the nature of their objection to coming under the award. His Honor said that the assumption was that there was no reasonable objection. He would grant the application. On the application of Mr Ellis certain employers were added to tho Operative Plasterers' award, and one employer was added to the South Canterbury Timber Yards' Employees' Union's award. AMENDMENT TO AWARD. The Hon J. Barr appeared in support of an application to amend the Canterbury Hotel and Restaurant Employees' award, and stated that it was desired both by the employers and employees that the office of the Jnion should be used as an employment bureau, and the amendment was in that direction. His Honor suggested that the matter would be better made the subject of an industrial agreement. GENERAL LABOURERS' AWARD. An application was made by Mr A. Paterson for a renewal of the Canterbury General Labourers' award. Mr Broadhead appeared on behalf of the employers', and said that the conditions of the award had been agreed upon. His Honor objected to a clause in the proposed award that "financial" members of the Union should be given preference over "non-financial" members, and refused to allow its inclusion in the award, stating that the parties, if they chose, could enter into an industrial agreement on the matter. He granted an award operative north of the Rangitata River, excluding Lyttelton. SOUTH CANTERBURY DRIVERS' AWARD. On behalf of the Canterbury Drivers' Union, Mr H. Hunter applied to have certain grocery firms in Timaru brought under an award. Mr Broadhead, on behalf of the employers, said that the form of award had been agreed upon. An award was granted for the South Canterbury district. CHRISTCHURCH PAINTERS AND DECORATORS' AWARD. An industrial agreement arrived at between the Painters and Decorators' Union and the employers was made an award, of the Court, on the application of Mr Broadhiead. GROCERY EMPLOYEES' AWARD.

The Grocery Employees' Union, represented by Mr Young, applied for an award governing the conditions of their trade. ' Mr Broadhead appeared on behalf of the employers. Mr Young said that an agreement had been arrived at with the employers upon all points save three: the wages of carters, tho preference clauso and the radius of operation for the award. Dealing with the necessity for the preference clause, Mr Young said that when the last award was made there were a good many Union members employed by Messrs Wardell Bros., T. Kincaid and J. Hall and Co. To-day there was not a single assistant in any of the three establishments mentioned who was a financial member of the Union. He believed that the employers had shown discrimination, and that without a preference clause for unionists preference would be shown against them.

Harry Harris, employed by T. Kincaid and Co. as a carter, gave evidence that some time ago he had aplied for a position as a carter with the grocery department of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Association, and was engaged for the work at the same wages as he had received at Kincaid's. The- conditions at the Farmers' Co-op. were, however, better, and the chances of advancement greater. "Witness gave a week's notice, but before it had expired he was told that it had been agreed by grocers that they should not engage each other's employees unless by consent. Witness therefore had to stop with Kincaid's. To Mr Broadhead: Witness was etill a member of the Union. W. Hilson, of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, gave evidence in corroboration of that of, the previous witness. Horace Harper gave evidence that up to eighteen months ago he had been in tho employ of John Hall and Co. as carter and storeman. Witness had been one of six employees who had taken part in a conference with the employers. Three days later ho had been discharged, after nine years' service, no reason being given for the discharge, while a reference was rofused. Witness had not since been able to obtain employment in the trade. To Mr Broadhead: Witness had applied for a position as driver at Waddington, and had referred his employer to Mr Hall. He was not aware that Mr Hall had recommended him for the position. Thomas Henry Butterfield, employed by Mr A. T. Jones as a carter, said that before the award was made he had to work between 60 and 70 hours a week for £1 a week. Ho was then neai'ly twenty years of ago. Under the award ho had better hours, better pay and bettor conditions. Unless preference was grantod, the active members of the Union would be pushed out of the trade. The membership had steadily decreased since the making of the 190(5 award.

T. Davis, employed by Manning and Co., gave corroborative evidence. H. Hunter, secretary of the Canterbury Drivers' Union, gave evidence that the carters employed by the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association were members of his Union, and were paid the Union wages. He considered that without a preference clause his Union would have a very small membership. There had been no friction between the Union and the employers since the preference clause had come into operation in the drivers' award. Mr Broadhead said that considerable friction had been caused by the overzeal Mr Hunter had displayed in driving men into the Union. The employers in this case strongly disapproved of the form of preference clause suggested. John Hall, a member of the firm of John Hall and Co., Ltd., gave evidence that he considered the present minimum wage for carters was a fair and reasonable wage, and that it should not be raised. Many carters got more than the present minimum wage. Ho did not think it advisable to give preference to unionists.

"W. WardeH, a member of the firm of Wa"-dell Bros, and gave similar evidence. Employment with grocery firms was of a confidential character, pad preference was objected to because

employers only cared to employ men whom they trusted. His Honor said that ho would take time to consider the matter.