ARBITRATION COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 285, 4 December 1940, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT

SITTING IN WANGANUI The jurisdiction of an award was a question in dispute when a sitting ol the Court of Arbitration was held in Wanganui yesterday. The industrial magistrate, Mr. J. A. Gilmour, presided. Mr. P. M. Butler (Wellington) appeared for the Wellington General Labourers’ Union, and Mr. W. J. Gardner for the Wanganui Harbour Board. After hearing submissions, the Court suggested that the Conciliation Council should be called together as soon as possible. If a settlement was not arrived at the matter could be referred back to the Court, when a sitting would probably be arranged in Wanganui before Christmas. It was stated that the Wangs,nui Harbour Board had 19 subsidised workers allotted to it and that seven were employed under the Harbour Boards Employees’ Award. The union claimed that these men should be brought under the General Labourers’.Award. The men were receiving 2s 4d an hour and the rate asked was 2s 10d an hour. The Wellington Harbour Board rate was 2s 6d. The men to which the dispute relates were 100 per cent, subsidised workers.