WITHDRAWAL OF ASSESSORS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25253, 4 August 1947, Page 8

WITHDRAWAL OF ASSESSORS

CONCILIATION COUNCIL DISPUTE

EMPLOYERS’ REPRESENTATIVE HELD INELIGIBLE

PA.) AUCKLAND, August 2. Because the employers’ representatives disagreed in a Conciliation Council matter with the ruling of the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr C. L. Hunter) that one of the employers’ four representatives was not eligible to act as an sssessor, the employers’ representatives withdrew, and the case was not proceeded with. The council was to have considered the claims of the Auckland Drivers’ Union. When Mr Hunter said he was not prepared to appoint Mr N. B. Spencer as one of the employers’ assessors, the employers’ advocate. Mr W. E. Anderson, said that as Mr Spencer had been nominated as an assessor, and as he was concerned in the industry, the Commissioner was bound to appoint him. Mr Hunter refused the employers’ request to grant an adjournment for legal advice, and the employers’ representatives left the room. On returning. they said their legal adviser had said that Mr Spencer was legally entitled to be an assessor. Mr Hunter disagreed, and the employers* representatives withdrew.

In a subsequent statement to the press. Mr Hunter said that Mr Spencer was a practising barrister and solicitor. Section 47 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act stated that no barrister or solicitor, whether acting under power of attorney or otherwise, should be allowed to appear or be heard before the council. Mr Hunter referred to other provisions of the act. and said he took into consideration all the relevant sections of the act.