WAGE CLAIM Court Calling Evidence On Country’s Economy

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29784, 29 March 1962, Page 16

WAGE CLAIM Court Calling Evidence On Country’s Economy

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 28.

If the Arbitration Court required witnesses to inform it of the country’s economic position, the Court, itself, should call them, said the advocate for the Employers’ Federation, Mr P. J. Luxford, during the hearing of the application of a general wage increase today.

So far only one witness has been called. He is the Government Statistician, Mr J. V. T. Baker, who was in the witness box all day today.

After the luncheon adjournment, Mr Justice Tyndall announced that the court would call representatives of the Treasury, the Reserve Bank and the Monetary and Economic Council. But, he added, if they were to give anything more than statistical evidence the consent of all parties would be necessary. Mr F. P. Walsh, for the Federation of Labour, and Mr D. P. Long, for the Public Service Association, both objected to the calling of a member of the Monetary and Economic Council, and agreed to the calling of Treasury and Reserve Bank representatives only on the condition that some restriction was placed on their cross-examination by the parties.

Mr Walsh said the Secretary of the Treasury and the Governor of the Reserve Bank were directly connected with the Government and, to some extent, responsible for shaping Government policies They thus had the opportun-

ity to speak with authority. The Monetary and Economic Council, however, was an advisory body, and its members could do no more than express opinions, said Mr Walsh. He felt that any evidence by the chairman of the council, Professor F. W. Holmes, would be against the application. His Honour said there seemed to be a conspiracy to deprive the court of expert evidence. The employers would not call witnesses and the other side employed the veto. Mr A. P, O’Shea, for the sheepowners’ union, said he was prepared to call any witnesses required by the court or by the other side. At his Honour’s suggestion, Mr Walsh and Mr Long made their agreement to the calling of Treasury and Reserve Bank representatives unqualified, and it was agreed that Mr Luxford and Mr O'Shea should subpoena a member of the Monetary and Economic Council.