ARBITRATION COURT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13332, 22 March 1911, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT.

•SITTINGS AT PALMERSTON NORTH. (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., March 21. The Arbitration Court concluded ita sittings to-day. The first case was an appeal from the decision of Mr Thomson, S.M., in the case of Charles Lennox, flaxiiiiller, Foxton, for employing men after one O’clock on Saturday. The Magistrate held that the clause of the award need not necessarily apply to pieceworkers. Against this decision the Flax Workers’ Union appealed. Judgment was reserved. The chief business was the, hearing of an application by the shearing shed hands' for an award. At present there is no award governing these hands. They sought to bring in an award similar in many respects to the shearers’ award, and making the . minimum; wage £2 and rations. Against this the Sheepowners’ Federation of New Zealand proposed a counter award, in which pressers are to receive 27s 6d and other shed workers 25s and found. The owners held, that the men’s claim amounted to £2 15s per’ week, and included Maori girls and youths. The owners also desire that all owners who shear less than 2500 sheep be excluded from the award; that eniployers have the right to require shed hands to fill in spare time performing other duties thou those connected with shearing operations or shod work; also that members of employers’ families, permanent employees or children of Maori parentage under, sixteen years he 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 35s t All these clauses were opposed by Mr Laracy on behalf of the Union, Mr Nivens, of Wairarapa, a- member of the council of Federated Sheep Owners, and Mr H. Dacland,- of Christchurch, the President, gave evidence for. the sheepowners, for whom Mr Pryor conducted the ease. ’ Judgment was reserved.