SHEARING SHED HANDS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13904, 1 December 1910, Page 9

SHEARING SHED HANDS.

♦ A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (srzciAi, io "the press.") WELLINGTON, November 30. In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr Bavey asked the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister of Labour) •whether his attention had been drawn to a Christchurch telegram, in the morning napers, showing that the Arbitration "Court had refused to make an award in the shearing shed hands case, on the ground that there -was technically no dispute and whether, in the Bill now before Parliament, he would insert a clause to provide for such difficulties in the future. The Minister said his attention had already been drawn to the report, and ho was giving it consideration. Ho rather thought that there was already power in the Act to enable the Court to deal with the position, but if it appeared that there was not, he wouldi cause an amendment to bo introduced for the ourpose. He was sorry the Court had not made an award, as feeling was running pretty high, and would be fomented. Mr McLaren pointed oat that when there was a dispute tbe Court couldi refuse to make an award. The Minister said ho thought the Court ought to make an award when a ca?e came before it, but he could not see his way to take away from tho Court a right possessed by every other judge. If the Court were compelled to make an award it might make an absolutely unsatisfactory one. He would look into the matter with ?. view to legislation next session.-