TO SET A STANDARD

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 10

TO SET A STANDARD

Sitting of Arbitration Court RATES OF WAGES By Telegraph—Press Association. New Plymouth, August 5. In view of the difficulties of parties to Industrial disputes arriving at settlements in conciliation councils owing to the varying rates of wages which have recently come into operation, the Arbitration Court early in July announced Its intention of holding a special sitting at Auckland with a view to enabling it to make a pronouncement on the question of the standard rates of wages for various classes of labour—skilled men, semi-skilled and unskilled. The Registrar now advises that the court will hold this sitting at the Supreme Court, Auckland, commencing on August 23. At Christchurch, the court indicated that, representative disputes might be selected for the purposes of hearing, but it lurd now decided to deal with the matter on a general basis so that the parties may present their views on the subject generally, with a view to enabling the court to make a pronouncement. It is proposed to allow representatives of Dominion organisations of employers and workers to express their views on the general question of rates of wages for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled labour, and the court desires that such organisations should make arrangements for the appointment of not. more than three advocates for each side, and preferably for one leading advocate each. The court expects to be in a position to make an early pronouncement following the hearing.