ONE AWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 8

ONE AWARD.

"BETTER THAN TWO'

COURT'S OPINION.

TAILORESSES' DISPUTE. REFERRED TO CONCILIATION. The order shop tailoresses' dispute came before the Arbitration Court this morning. Miss A. Cossey appeared for the union, and Mr. T. O. Bishop for the employers.

Mr. Bishop, when the case was called, said the employers wanted one award for male and female workers. There had been a misunderstanding about the date of the conciliation council proceedings in respect of the female section, and this had prevented employers from filing their counter-proposals. He asked the Court to adjourn the- case on the grounds' that it would be more convenient to have men and women covered bv one award, and that the employers were not prepared l*6r the case. He suggested a fresh conciliation council hear the two sides, male and female, together.

Miss Cossev denied there had been a misunderstanding and said the employees were in a position :o go on with the case. The female section wished to remain separate from the male section.

The president (Mr. Justice Page), after the Court had adjourned to consider the employees' application for an adjournment, said the- Court took the view that there seemed to have been some misunderstanding about the date of the sitting of the Conciliation Council. "We think the proper course is to refer the matter back to Conciliation Council. We do it on this clear understanding that the present dispute should comt before the Court at the present sitting. So far as proceedings in Conciliation Council are concerned, they are matters for the two parties.

The president added that if a separate award were wanted the tailoresses should be given priority. The question of a joint award was one for the respective unions to decide. "We think in an industry one award is better than two, and we favour, where practicable. Dominion awards. The Court has found itself very much pressed for time anfi the more of these awards that are bound together'the simpler our work becomes."

In answer to Mr. W. S. Moxsom, representing the male workers, the president said he had I'.o doubt thev also would be included in the present sitting.