ASSESSORS PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 17

ASSESSORS PROTEST

Hearing Postponed in the Conciliation Council DEPUTATION TO MINISTER A strong protest against the postponement of the hearing of the dispute between the New Zealand Federated Motion Picture Projectionists' Industrial Association of Workers pnd the ,T. 0. Williunisop Picture Corporation, Ltd., and others was made by the projectionists’ association m conciliation council yesterday, The employees’ assessors refused to accept a postponement, and formeci themselves Jnto a deputation to approach the Minister of Labour with a view to the conciliation commissioner, Mr. M, J. Reardon, exercising pis rights under a clause in the 1.0. and A. Act. The clause suites that unless the respondents recommend the required number of tpialified persons as assessors at least three clear days before the day appointed for tbo hearing of the dispute the commissioner may forthwith on behalf of Mie respondents

appoint such number of qualified persons aj Is, necessary to supply the full number of assessors required, The secretary of the asspciatioi], Mr. L. ill, Read, said it seemed as if no effort was beip.g made by the employers to assist the association, and the workers had been .penalised all over the country, Hp asked the commissioner to enforce his powers under the Act anq appoint assessors, Mr. w, J. Mountjoy, agent for the employers, read a letter to the commissioner ig Which fie protested at what he termed “the unreasonable attitude of the association and its inch of courtesy in not ascertaining whether the date of the hearing would be suitable 'to the employers-" He explained that he could not proceed as he was engaged in the Arbitration Court.

T|ie employers, he said, had not had enough time to frame the counter-claims. There were only 18 days between the receipt of the workers’ claims and the date of the hearing. He had notified the secretary of the association that he would be engaged in the Arbitration Court on June 23. There was no desire on the part of the employers to hamper the employees from obtaining fair wages and hours. Mr. Read said he protested stjongly against a postponement. His assessors bad. been treated unfairly and had had great difficulty in obtaining lea ye from their businesses. Theatre managers would allow only qualified persons to do the operating. After further discussion the cominis, sinner informed Mr. Read that he would not send the case to the Arbitration Court by default. Mr. Read replied that if the hearing -were postponed he would take the matter up with the authorities.