EMPLOYEES PROTEST.

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 21, 24 July 1936, Page 7

EMPLOYEES PROTEST.

«, INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE DEPUTATION TO MINISTER j An application by Mr. W.- J. Mount-, joy, advocate for the employers, for a postponement of the proceedings, was strongly objected to by the assessors for the employees when the Conciliation Commissioner sat yesterday to hear the dispute between the New Zealand Federated Motion Picture Pro» jectionists' Industrial Association of Workers and Messrs. J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation, Ltd., and other employers. Mr. Mountjoy said that all his assessors had not been nominated, and he was unable to proceed. All the assessors for the employees attended. ■ Before leaving to fulfil an engagement in the Arbitration Court Mr. Mountjoy suggested a date for the hearing of the dispute, but. the employees' assessors refused to accept a postponement. They • .formed themselves into a deputation-to^.'. approach, the Minister of Labour with a,view to the Conciliation Commissioner exercising his rights undev a clause in" the LC. and A. Act, which states that unless the respondents recommend the required number of qualified v persons as assessor^ at least three clear days before the day appointed ifor, the hearing of the dispute, the Commissioner shall appoint on behalf of the.respondents such number of qualified persons as is necessary to supply the full number of assessors required. .• Mr. Mountjoy explained that the date of hearing had been arranged irrespective of whether it suited the employers, or their representative, and unfortunately he had been unable to get all his assessors together. The employees* claims were, received by the employers on July 4. which meant that only eighteen days were allowed between the receipt of the claims and the date of hearing. Also, he had notified the secretary of the union that he would be .engaged in the Arbitration Court on July 23. The employers* counter-claims had only been filed yesterday. He pointed but that there was no desire on the. part of the employers to hamper negotiations or to prevent the employees, from obtaining fair hours and wages. POSTPONEMENT OPPOSED. - Mr. L. E. Read, secretary of the association, protested against the attitude of the employers, and said he was strongly against a postponement. He maintained that Mr. Mountjoy had had plenty of opportunity of making suitable arrangements to meet on July 23. The assessors for the workers had been treated unfairly. They were projectionists, and they found great difficulty in obtaining leave of absence. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. M. J. Reardon) 'said he thought the employees had a reasonable complaint. ; To Mr. Read, the Commissioner said he could not send the case to the Arbitration Court by default. . Mr.' Read said that if a postponement was made he would take the matter up with" the authorities. He said that the employees had been shown no consideration at the last Conciliation Council meeting. When the meeting was over a clause was altered, although nine assessors stated that it had not been discussed or agreed to in Conciliation Council.' Mr. Mountjoy said he was forced to make an amendment on representations from Auckland.