TRADE UNIONS’ APPLICATION

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 12

TRADE UNIONS’ APPLICATION

WAGE CUT ORDERS RESCINDED ARBITRATION COURT'S DECISION Fr*M AaiootfcWon— By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, December 22. (Received December 23, at 1 p.m.) The various metal trades unions, as well as the Carters and Drivers’ Union, made applications to the Full Court of the Arbitration Court for the revocation, so far as the Colonial Sugar Refining Company was concerned, of orders reducing the wages of their members by 10 per cent. Chief Judge Doth ridge and Judge Drake-Brockman, in a joint judgment, said that one of the grounds of the application was that the sugar agreement existing between the company and the Commonwealth , and Queensland Governments had been renewed without modification. It was urged that the company had continued to make profits, and had distributed its customary high dividends at 12J per cent, upon its paid-up capital. The court had anticipated a falling off in the profits ot the company-, and a probable reduction of its dividend. There had been no reduction.

The two judges were of opinion that the necessity for a 10 per cent, reduction in wages was by no means at an end, and the necessity would very soon become apparent to the State wage tribunals and others. When it appeared that all, and not merely a minority of the company’s employees were to bo called on to share the sacrifice, steps might bo taken for the renewed operation of the orders of the court. In the meantime it would be ordered that the reductions should not apply to the company. The orders were rescinded.