The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-17 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

DIFFICULTIES UNDER 3l a. ma's ARBITRATION ACT.
—A short time since Mr. Pritchard, carpenter, Warwick.lane,
received an order to make twenty-four windows, with shutters fitted
to the frames, completely ready for fixing in a first-rate building to
be erected in South America, and a dispute arose between him and
a journeyman of the name of Bodley, who had finished fifteen of
these windows, as to the pace he should be paid for his labour. It
Is the custom in the trade to make distinct charges for preparing
the work on the beech, and for fitting it up in the building with
hinges, bolts, locks, &c. In this case, though the work could not
be fitted in,yet it was tot to be left in a rough mate, without hinges,
See., and the ground of dispute was, whether any and what
allowance was to be made beyond the first charge.
This charge was brought before Mr. Alderman Wood one
day last week, who, as the parties agreed to abide by his de.
termination, undertook to decide the matter, but very soon found
himself obliged to relinquish the task, from the difficulty of under.
standing the exact nature and value of the work performed, and
recommended a reference to arbitrators. This was reluctantly
agreed to by Bodley, on account of the loss of time it was likely
to occasion; and yesterday the arbitrators appeared to state, that
they could not agree, and it became the duty of Sir C. S. HUNTER,
the sitting 31agiserate, to finally determine the points in dispute
between them.
The reference at this Office of a dispute in the eahinet-maker's
trade a short time since had a similar result, and no other can be
expected from the manner in which the Act is carried into effect.
The Statute directs that the Magistrate shall name two masters
and two journeymen as fit persons to be arbitrators, presuming
that the ;arsons so named will it all probability be entire
strangers both to the complainant and the defendant, and therefore
go into the quetion impartially. From these four persons the
muter, and journeyman are to select each one. But in the present
cue, es in that of the cabinet-makers, the Magistrate confessed
himself so far unecquainted with journeymen and masters as to be
unable to make the required nomMation, and took from the cont-
plainant and defendant themselves the natnes they chose to give--
each of course naming parties whom they expected to stand firm
in support of their respective interests. The result ass, as we
have before stated, disagreement.
Six CLAUDIcs now called on the arbitrators to state upon what
points they diaagreed.
Mr. Pritchard 's friend said, he did not conceive Bodley was en.
titled to a farthing according •to the original agreement, as pen.
Billed on a board, which would be produced by the foreman, and
sworn to. Bodily, who at weekly wages would hare earned as.
a day, had by the contract been able to earn G.. 6d. a day, and as
to what the work was worth according teethe pric&book, that, he
thought, must be al•ngether put out of view.
itodley's friend said he bad never been a party to the contract on
the board, but had delivered his terms to his master in the outset
written on paper, and this paper Mr. Pritchard refused to produce.
Working task.work on a good job a man ought to earn 10s. est.
a day, and believing the witneeses the man had produced, and who
were now ready to he examined, he believed Bodley to be entitled
to 41. 2s. ICI., and the whole charge would then be ten per cent.
under the scale.

The witnesses on both sides' were about to he called, when the
Alderman expressed his conviction that he should nevtr be able to
decide, and called on another case. The parties, after consulting a
few moments, agreed to try and settle the matter Iwo ig them-
selves, at which Mr. lierestUrd, the Chief Clerk, signitiM great
satistaction, and observed, if they did not, the man must bring an
action at law against his muter roe hls demand.