INQUIRY WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 133, 7 June 1929, Page 9

INQUIRY WANTED.

ARBITRATION COURT.

DISSATISFIED WOBKERS.

RECENT AWARDS CRITICISED

At tlie invitation of the Stonemasons and Milk Roundsmen's Unions, a meeting of trade union executives was held in the Trades Hall last evening. Over sixty trade union executive members were present. The meeting was called to consider the recent awards issued by the Court respecting the two trades mentioned. In the case of the masons, the outstanding objections were that insufficient provision had been made to reduce vibration of pneumatic tools, and that shift work had been introduced in a building trade where 110 such provision had previously been made. In the case of the milk roundsmen, the objection was to unlimited of work, with no provision for overtime being inserted, except under exceptional circumstances, and on bottle delivery. The discussion took the form of a protest against what was alleged to be tlie general policy of the Court in issuing decisions not in accordance with the weight of evidence adduced, not only in relation to the two awards mentioned, but also most awards issued within the last few years.,. The following resolution was carried: —

"That this meeting draws the attention of the Government to recent decisions of the Arbitration Court, believing that the decisions are not in accordance with the weight of evidence tendered. We therefore suggest that the Government inquire into these decisions, and if it is in agreement with our opinion, that Mr. Justice Frazer be removed from the presidency of the Arbitration Court." In order to give effect to the foregoing resolution a committee was appointed to notify various labour organisations in other parts of New Zealand, the Minister of Labour, the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Labour party.