COURT TO RULE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 11

COURT TO RULE

MAKING OF ONE ■ AWARD

CRAFT UNIONS' PROTEST

An opinion as to whether a further award or agreement can be made embracing industries in which an award or agreement is already in, existence is to be sought 'from the Court of Arbitration, according to. statements made in conciliation council today, when the New Zealand harbour board employees' dispute was under consideration. The skilled trades in New Zealand objected at yesterday's sitting of the council to being added as parties to the award, and the objection was not adjudicated upon pending discussions between the parties. Upon the resumption of the proceedings today, Mr. J. Roberts, who- is agent for the workers in the dispute, stated that the matter had been discussed by his own and the' skilled trades organisation, but they had been unable to arrive at any agreement. There was quite a lot of difference between the parties, added Mr. Roberts. Mr. J. Moulton, representing the skilled trades, confirmed Mr. Roberts's statement. Therefore, he said, he questioned the right oi the council to! make an award where organisations had awards in existence. He felt that the council had no right to do so, and accordingly suggested that the matter be referred to the Court for a decision. "We feci that this strikes at the right of the organisations in so far as they have other agreements," he said. The Commissioner (Mr. R. E. Price) said that the objection would be referred to the Court, but there was nothing in the legislation to prevent the present proceedings from continuing. Mr. Moulton suggested that an opinion be sought from the Court during the adjournment of the conciliation council proceedings. Mr. Roberts said that both parties had certain rights, and the only manner, in which the matter could be determined was by the Court in the usual way. He would object to a piecemeal application.The council then proceeded to other business.