STRUCK OUT AS PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 16

STRUCK OUT AS PARTY

BLIND INSTITUTE

THE WICKERWORK AWARD

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 3

Application for the New Zealand Institute for the Blind to be struck out as a party to the Dominion wickerworkers' dispute was heard in the Industrial Court before Mr. J. A. Gilmour, S.M. The secretary of the institute submitted that it was a charitable institution, not trading for profit; that peculiar circumstances did not lend themselves to award conditions; that the institute did not cut prices; that the workshops were run at a loss; and that basketmaking throughout the world was looked on as a blind man's work; all the men were under-rate workers; last March the Court of Arbitration had struck the institute out of the award.

Opposing the application, the secretary of the United Furniture Trades Union said that southern firms considered the institute their most serious competitor, and complaints had been made that it was selling below the prices of private concerns. He considered that blind workers should be cited.

The secretary of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association said he had been requested to appear on behalf of Christchurch manufacturers, who were concerned abput the possibility of unfair competition. .

The Magistrate said that even if the Court of Arbitration's judgment had been given in slightly different circumstances, he thought he should follow it. He would make a reservation that, if at any time during the currency of the award manufacturers brought forward evidence of unfair competition, then the matter could be reconsidered by the Court.

An order would be made striking out the institute as a party.