WOOLLEN MILLS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 8

WOOLLEN MILLS

Arbitration Court Hearing

CLAIMS FOR NEW AWARD The reading of 84 typewritten foolscap pages of argument in support of claims made by workers in New Zealand woollen mills and hosiery factories for a new industrial award was completed by Mr. W. T. Young in the Court of Arbitration, Wellington, yesterday. The reading occupied part of Tuesday morning and all of Tuesday afternoon, and concluded at 11.30 a.m. yesterday.

Mr. Justice O’Regan, who, with Messrs. W. Cecil Prime and A. L. Monteith, presided, complimented Mr. Young on his comprehensive and able statement, which, he said, contained much useful information. He pointed out, however, that details of the'financial position of mills and factories, while interesting to the court, were not strictly relevant to a dispute on wages, because the wages the court fixed must be equally applicable to all employers. Appearing with Mr. Young for the workers was Mr. W. W. Batchelor. Mr. A. S. Cookson, with him Mr. James Evans, appeared for the employers. Mr. Young proceeded to call evidence about working conditions in mills and factories and the degree of skill required by various types of workers. When one witness was being crossexamined Mr. Evans contended that • the employees’ wage claims were inconsistent, in that there were discrepancies in the classification of various types of workers." In some cases, he said, a higher rate was being claimed for less skilled workers than for those more skilled. > Mr. Young said that if the employers had been willing to discuss the matter in conciliation council such discrepancies might have been removed. TJie workers did not wish to leave a loophole for employers to engage a man on a low-skilled job and transfer him to one requiring more skill without an increase in pay.

Mr, Cookson denied that the employers had been reluctant to discuss the matter in conciliation council, or that, they wished to secure any loophole as had been suggested. The court expressed the opinion that it would be desirable for the parties to confer with a view to arriving as nearly as possible at some agreement on classification. After some discussion, however, no arrangement ivas made for such a conference.

The workers’ case had not concluded when the hearing was adjourned at a p.m. It will continue to-day.