F.O.L. Win Test Margins Decision

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 3

F.O.L. Win Test Margins Decision

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. The Federation of Labour will take a test case to the Arbitration Court to test the sincerity of the Court’s belief for increased margins for skill.

Mr T. E. Skinner, president of the F.0.L., said today he would apply for a date for the hearing soon.

Mr Skinner said the Court’s refusal to approve the F.O.L. application for a 36 per cent wage margin for skilled workers was the weakest, and most blatant decision it had ever made. If the refusal was any criteria of the manner in which the Court should shelve its responsibilities, its future was in jeopardy, he said. This was the first time the Court had said the F.O.L. had a good case and then given nothing. He was also critical of the suggestion by Judge A. P. Biair, in a special addendum, that some other authority should examine the workers’ claims. “That is what the Court is set up to do,” said Mr Skinner. Judge Blair said he favoured some sort of general inquiry, as in Australia, where the Government and other interested parties could make submissions. Mr Skinner said a former Judge of the Court, Sir Arthur Tyndall, had made it plain he would not be pressurised by anyone least of all by governments. Mr Skinner also challenged the figures quoted by Judge Blair in his decision. Dog For Tonga An Auckland-bred Alsatian has joined the police dog section of the Tongan Police Force. The 15-month-old dog, named Cito of Rannach, or Duke for short, was presented to the Tonga Police Department by a former Auckland man, Mr M. N. Tremain.— (P.A.)