ARBITRATION COURT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11643, 22 August 1905, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

(Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, August 22. The grocers' dispute was resumed at the Arbitration Court this morning.

Mr Scotfc, for the employers, contended that the Union's case had not been made out, and that good reasons for asking for a new award had not been given. On the other hand, he considered the employers had proved that there was no justification at the present time for altering conditions or increasing wages. Things to-day were not as good as when the award was made. Competition was never keener, and it cost more to run a grocery business. Recent Labour laws had completely upset and destroyed the whole method of weekly employment, by insisting on payment of overtime and holidays. . Mr Breen, for the assistants, thought the assistants had made a mistake in coming into agreement with the employers. The main question for the Court was whether £2 2s was a fair living wage. Carters should receive the same wages as carters in other callings.

The Court intimated that it would give its award as soon as possible.

In reference to the sailmakers' dispute, the Court intimated that it had reserved its decision on the law point raised a few days ago, which ,was very important, and announced that the meantime it did not intend to inflict penalties in the cases.