LABOR AWARDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 879, 1 May 1903, Page 2

LABOR AWARDS.

COMPLAINTS TO PREMIER,

AUCKLAND LOCK-OUT.

(Per Press WELLINGTON, last night.

A deputation from the Trades Council and Stationary Engine-driv-ers’ Union waited on the Premier this evening. They complained that the award of the Arbitration Court in the dispute between the drivers and employers was unfair to workers —particularly in regard to the hours ol labor and the classification of certificates. It was alleged that the enginedrivers at some dairy lactories were working seventy hours weekly. The Premier said the only remedy was to get a better award next time lie did not see why the Court had come to the conclusion it had, and he thought the Court' was in error. However, what he had heard was ex parte, and there might he another side to the question. He would ask the Minister of Marine to get a report from the Inspector, o f Machinery as to evasions of the law in the grading of certificates and placing boys in charge of engines. The Premier then made some lemarlts concerning the furniture trade trouble in Auckland. It looked to him suspiciously like a lock-out when men were suddenly found to he incompetent to earn the wage awarded by the Court. It appeared that the fact of seventy men having been re fused employment had been overlooked. An amendment of the Jaw was necessary to provide against a repetition of what had occurred.