PRECEDENT IN 1916

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 10

PRECEDENT IN 1916

AWARD OVERRIDDEN

DECISION BY CABINET

{By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day,

Referring today to the question ofj the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) overriding Arbitration Court awards, Mr. Hiram Hunter, a former member of the Court, in a letter to the "Star-Sun," says: "I wish to inform, or at least remind, you of what took place in the Drivers' Federation dispute in 1916, when the Massey Government was in power.

"The Drivers' Federation, for which I acted as advocate, was dissatisfied with the award of the Court, and we waited upon the then Minister of Labour (the late Hon. W. H. Herries) and requested him to convene a meeting of representatives of employers to meet the Drivers' Federation delegates in conference to consider granting an amount in excess of the Court's award, w'nirb was £2 12s per week. We demanded £3. "After some days of negotiations both parties agreed to leave the final adjustment in the hands of Cabinet. Cabinet dealt with the matter, and awarded an extra 6s per week, making a minimum of £2 18s. This decision was embodied in a Cabinet minute and duly gazetted as such. "At the time this was heralded throughout the Dominion aj a dangerous precedent. Mr. Armstrong is therefore following in the footsteps of a gentleman who was respected by all parties and honoured fcr his keen sense of justice."