ADDITIONAL BURDENS IMPOSSIBLE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 232, 27 June 1929, Page 9

ADDITIONAL BURDENS IMPOSSIBLE

ENGINEERING TRADES’

DISPUTE

Dominion Special Service.

Christchurch, June 25.

When, after about a year’s delay, the moulders, engineers, and boilermakers’ Dominion dispute came up for hearing at the Arbitration Court this afternoon, it soon became clear that the employers were making a determined fight on the points at stake, depending mainly on the evidence on the condition of the engineering trade in New Zealand today to strengthen their case against the union’s demands. That the industry was in a decidedly weakened state and unable to bear any additional burdens was the contention of Mr. T. O. Bishop, who appeared for the employers, and who in the course of a lengthy statement strongly criticised the present conditions surrounding overtime and the interpretation placed upon it. “I venture to say that nothing this Court could do would be of such a benefit to the community as a whole,” he said, “than a cutting down of the enormous cost of overtime, so-called, in this industry and the transport industry.”

Mr. Justice Frazer presided, and with him on the Bench were Messrs. L. J. Schmidt and A. L. Monteith. Mr. R. F. Barter appeared for the employees. Mr. Bishop quoted figures in the course of his lengthy statement to support his contention that the industry was sick, a fact which he thought the employees would admit. The only difference between them was upon the nature of the remedy. Evidence was also given as to the position of the engineering trade in Christchurch and Dunedin, and the Court adjourned till to-morrow.