WORKERS' AWARDS

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20342, 15 September 1931, Page 8

WORKERS' AWARDS

GENERAL OVERHAUL WANTED. VIEW OF EMPLOYEES. "No dpubt most employers will agreq that the time is ripe for a general overhaul of awards with a view to removing many of the harassing restrictions and conditions which have been imposed upon industry," states the annual report of the Canterbury Employers' Association, discussing the industrial disputes of the past year. "Many of these restrictions could be removed without injuring the workers, and, as various awards come up, efforts should bo made by the representatives of each industry tg persuade the Court to eliminate provisions which have interfered with the flexibility of working ' conditions,' ? In November last several conferences had been held in "Wellington with kind' red bodies, continues the report, and representations were made to the Aot-ing-Primo Minister on the State of the country and the necessity for action. When the Prime Minister returned from London in January, an immediate announcement had been made, and it wag apparent that the faets present ed by the Employers' Federation and Other commercial and industrial grpupg had received earnest consideration, Du?' in£ the emergency session of Parlja*ment this year provision had been mad® in the Finance "Act granting the A*"bi r tr&tioji Court power, to make General Orders amending awartls during theiv currency. At the instigation of almost all of its affiliated organisations, _ the Federation then applied to the Arbitration Court for a sitting at which to present a case for the reduction of wages, Lower Production Costs. "lfc was clear that industry uould not carry the high rate of wages, and it was inevitable that a reduetion wpul4 have to be made. Lower production cpsts should now result, and the Employers' Federation has specially appealed to employers to pass on the re: duction so that the standard of living should be maintained." Aga,iu year the number of Sis? putes handled by the Association was less than that Of a few years ago. Actually, there were eight Dominion dis? putes and nine local disputes dealt with, (in addition t<? a number of minor matt ters such as interpretations of awards) at the two sittings of the Arbitration Court during the last financial year. Several Disputes Fending. " There arq at the present time several disputes pending," continues the report, "and it seemß that there will be increased activity in this direction during the next few months. It is significant' that for the first time for many years the employers in several industries have expressed a desire to take the initiative in creating a dispute for a new award covering their industry. "No doubt they are feeling the various award restrictions more severely than in more prosperous times, and an their awards are expiring, they seek to have these restrictions altered through the legitimate channels provided by New Zealand industrial legislation."