ARBITRATION COURT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12710, 22 March 1911, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

SITTINGS AT PALMERSTON ■•i --, NORTH.

■niT^ n Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, March 21. llie Arbitration Court concluded its sittings to-dny. The first case was Jin appeal lrom the decision <A Mr Thomson, b.M,, 111 -tha-easa of Charles Lennox, .flax ; ; miller, Foxtou, for employing men after one o'clock on Saturday Jhe magistrate., held that the clause of the award need not necessarily apply to piecerworipra. Agaiaist tiiis decision' the Uax Workers"- Union appealed. Judgmentwas reserved. ' Tlio chief business was the hearing of an application- by the* shearing Died hands tor an award. At pifcenfc there is no award governing these hands. They sought to biting in an award similar iix many .respsct^tq theshearers' award and making tho minimum wage £2 and rations. Against this the Sheepowners' 1< ederation" of Nw Zealand proposed a counter award, -in which pra-sars are to receive 27s 6d and other shed workers 25s and found. The owners held that the- men's* claim to £2 15s per week, and iriqhtded" Maori girls and youths. The owners also desire that all owners who shear kiss than 2500 sheep be--excluded from the award; that employers have the right to require shed hands to fill in spare* time perfornwng other duties than those connected with shearing operations or shed work; also that members of employers' families, p?rmane-nt employees or children of Maori parentage under sixteen years be not.affected by the award; also that youths and Maori girls may be employed at 18 years of age for 15s per week, over 18 and under 20 at 20s per week and board and lodging; cooks 355. All these clauses were opposed by, Mr La racy on behalf of the Union. Mr Nivens, of Wairarapa, a member of the council of Federated Sheep Owners, and Mr H. Dacland, of Christ-: church, the President, "gave evidence for the shipowners, for- whom Mr Pryor conducted the case. Judgment was reserved.