TIMBER INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 15

TIMBER INDUSTRY

affbica nuiN ruk DOMINION AWARD

DISMISSED BY ARBITRATION COURT

An application by the Timber Workers’ Federation for a Dominion award for employees in tlie timber industry instead of tlie local awards as at present, was refused by Mr. Justice Frazer unit tits associates on tlio bench, Messrs. W. Scott and A. L. Monteith, in tlie Arbitration Court yesterday morning. Mr. T. O. Bishop and Air. A. Seed appeared for the employers, and Air. E. i'arlane and Air. T. (J'Bryue represented the Timber Workers’ Federation.

“A sort of deadlock lias arisen between the employers and employees," said Mr. I’arlane in asking the Court for a Dominion award for timber workers. “J.t lias been the desire of the unions throughout New Zealand to have a Dominion award for employees in the timber industry. On the other hand the employers seem to desire the retention of the old system of local awards. The position has now arisen that it is necessary to ask the Court as to whether the employees are to proceed along Dominion lines for an award or to maintain the old system of local awards."

Air. Bishop submitted that the federation was in the position of a plaintiff, and hud not presented a case to answer.' Mr. Parlane sought to introduce a new system, and one that had not been previously tried out in the industry, but ho did not put up any case as to why a change was necessary. At the moment there was no case to answer. Air. I’arlane: It is the general desire on flic part of all tlie unions to have a Dominion award as other industries have. With a Dominion award it simplifies matters in dealing with disputes. “There is nothing before the Court,” replied Air. Bishop, "but the statement that the unions desire a Dominion award. His Honour Jias uo proof of that. Several unions are not included in the citation. In tlie absence of proof I submit that the Court should not interfere, and that the application should be dismissed.”

At this stage the members of the Court, adjourned to consider the matter, dismissing the application when they returned, about ten minutes later. "The Court,” said His Honour, “in this matter is asked to consider whether it should continue the practice of separate local awards, or bring in a new svstem in this case, namely, a Dominion award. I wish to make it perfectly clear that the Court has never committed itself to any general statement in favour of Dominion or local awards, and has always been guided by the circumstances. In such applications as the present, the onus is on tlio party claiming a change to show the need of it. In some cases, such as that of hotel employees, there was no reason why a Dominion award should not be made, but in the case of timber workers the position is different. The Court has always sought, in its awards, to make conditions and wages as nearly uniform as possible, lint the employers in this case take up the attitude. that, in view of differing local conditions, it is impossible to co-ordin-ate everything in one big award. It has not been shown Hint this difficulty could be got over. The only course is for the Court to dismiss the application for a Dominion dispute, and. to refer lor-al disputes back to Conciliation Councils. Tn the event of Conciliation Councils being unable to arrange a settlement. the coses could be dealt with by the Arbitration Court in the ordinary wav.”