ARBITRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 8

ARBITRATION.

NO SECOND COURT. \ MINISTER'S OPINION. ONE TRIBUNAL PREFERABLE. I CATCHING UP WITH ARREARS The opinion that there should be a much larger proportion of complete settlements of industrial disputes outside the Arbitration Court was expressed tins morning by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H, T. Armstrong. Discussing the Court generally and its work, the Minister said the legislation dealing with the 40-hour week and the basic: wage had inundated the Court with applications. A suggestion had been made by a number of people that a second tribunal should be Get up, first of all to deal with compensation cases, and thus relieve the Court in that way. It had been found, however, that there were not so many compensation cases awaiting decision. Tliere might be 50 or GO, and about half of them were for hearing in Wellington. A separate Compensation Court would not relieve the position to any great extent. "The proposal to set up a second Court to deal with industrial disputes would hardly be workable,'' said Mr. Armstrong. "The two Courts- would probably not have the same point of view in respect to conditions of employment and rates of wages. It is better to have a little delay than to create an anomaly of that kind. The Court is catching up on arrears, and cnce the leeway is made up the work of the Court will be no than in the p.ist. If anything' it will he less. In many instances, when a case comes before the Court everything T ias been settled with- the exception of wages, conciliation councils having dealt with flll other questions." i The Minister said it"had to be remembered that there were many entirely new organisations as the result of the Government's legislation. The shorter working week and the elimination of Saturday work in certain industries had been practically finished with as far as the Court was concerned, but the enormous increase in the number of unions was a factor that had'had to be taken into account. Some unions to-day, which in the past had not been in existence, were making applications to the Court, and that had added to the delay in clearing up the work of the tribunal. It was apparent that in many disputes the Conciliation Councils had found solutions, except in regard to 'one or two important points. The mind of the Court would be better known as cases proceeded, and then there would be a larger percentage of complete agreements. "I want to encourage, as far as possible, the making of complete agreements outside the Court," he added. "Only the larger issues should remain for settlement by the Court."