N.Z. CARPENTERS DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 3

N.Z. CARPENTERS DISPUTE

CONCILIATION COUNCIL TO MEET AGAIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. The Court of Arbitration during the third day of the hearing unanimously decided to refer the carpenters’ and joiners' dispute back to the Conciliation Council. After hearing the submissions of Mr C. G. Camp, advocate for the New Zealand Master Builders’ Association, and Mr R. Stanley, advocate for the workers’ union, as to what documents they considered should be admitted, Mr Justice Tyndall adjourned the hearing to allow members of the Court and advocates for the various parties to consider whether the hearing could legally proceed. His Honour questioned whether the Court had jurisdiction to hear the dispute when everybody was challenging everything. When the Court resumed at 2.30 p.m., Mr Camp said that after consulting the employers he represented it had been agreed that the dispute should be referred back to the Conciliation Council. Mr Stanley agreed that this course should be taken. His Honour said the Court had unanimously come to the same conclusion, however reluctant they might be to stop. Referring the dispute back to the Conciliation Council might not mean any delay, as it would have been unwise for the Court to make any award until after the challenge to the suburban clause naa been decided by the Supreme Court. The Court would repeat its assurance" that it would facilitate the hearing of the dispute. . . Mr Stanley said it had been agreed between the parties that the Conciliation Council would meet on October 4. 5, and 6. His Honour said that to facilitate the hearing the Court would reduce the period in which the employers’ counterproposals must be lodged from 10 to three days.