ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 260, 28 July 1921, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT

APPLICATIONS DISMISSED MARINE COOKS AND STEWARDS’ CLAIMS The Court of Arbitration has delivered judgment on the application by tho New Zealand Marine (Moks and . Stewards’ Union for a further cost-of-living bonus. In dismissing the application, Judge Frazer stated:—"The Court has/ granted the stewards the cost-of-living bonuses heretofore declared by it, nnd cannot grant the further bonus applied for, ns the effect of such a grant would bo to increase the wages without reference to the cost of living. The basis of the applications is the new rates recently awarded by the Australian Court, and this is not a relevant consideration under the War Legislation nnd Statute Amendment Act, 1918. It has to be borne in mind that since November, 1920. the New Zealand award, with bonuses, gave higher rates than the Apse tralian award, and the Australian rates that aro now higher than those in New Zealand aro liable to bo reduced under the Australian legislation at a date earlier than that on which the New Zealand rates are likely to bo reconsidered. An award, once made, is intended to be a settlement for a definite period of the matters in dispute, and can be amended onlv in strict accordance with provisions of the law."

The Court also dismissed an application affecting the galley staffs _in the same union, giving the following reasons: "This is an application to amend the’award in respect of the hours, of work and overtime rates. The application is based on the recent Australian award. The Court is of opinion that alterations in conditions applicable to Australia are not relevant considerations that the Court is entitled to take into account when it is asked to amend a New Zealand award under the provisions, of tho War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, though they may he relevant when a new award is being made in the Court.” The Judge repeated. his observations made in the previous case, and added: "In any event, certain provisions in the Australian award relative to tropical conditions cannot bo of general application in New Zealand. Further, the Court has no power to amend an award under tho provisions of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, unless it is satisfied as to the existence of a change in the cincumstances since the award was made. In tho present case the award is only a few weeks old, and there has been no change in the conditions affecting Ihe indnstrf. On the other hand, slackness of business has caused a number of vessels to be laid up.” SHEARERS’ SHED-HANDS’ DISPUTE. By Telegraph.—l’rene Asiociation. Dunedin. July 27. The Arbitration Coiirt heard the shearers’ shed hands’ dispute, but after the evidence was taken it was decided not to labour tho main issues till the principal and final hearing of the case in Wellington on August 25. Tho union claimed to be asking only to be placed on the same relative footing as in 1914. The employers endeavoured to show that tho prices now realised failed to clear the cost of production.