Industry Disputes Court Wanted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32303, 22 May 1970, Page 24

Industry Disputes Court Wanted

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 21.

The annual conference of Auckland Federated Farmers today approved a remit that the Government be asked to set up a special industrial disputes court presided over by three judges, or retired judges, to hear all industrial disputes.

The remit, from Northern Wairoa, said that from the inception of such a court, unions and management should be required to submit all disputes to it within three days and order their members back to normal work. The court’s decision should be binding on all parties in any disputes. Moving the remit, Mr G. M. Finlayson told the conference an independent authority which could quickly step in and hear disputes was urgently needed. Both sides

of the dispute could be heard in a “fair glare of publicity” and no silly actions would be taken by either unions or managements involved.

“Such a court,” Mr Finlayson said, “could have a marked effect on wildcat strikes and its aim would be to get at the truth of disruptions.”

If this were done, a ruling could be made on a strike and the proper people named as offenders, he said. If there was still no settlement then the Government could take action.