ARBITRATION COURT STATUS

Evening Star, Issue 22774, 8 October 1937, Page 12

ARBITRATION COURT STATUS

AMENDING BILL MAKES ND CHANGE MINISTER DESCRIBES DUTIES OF INDUSTRIAL S.M.'S [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 8. “ No alteration to the status of the Arbitration Court is provided in the Bill now being drafted as an amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The court will remain as at present constituted, and will continue to be the supreme authority.” said Mr Armstrong to-day. “ There is no suggestion that the court will bo converted into a court of appeal.” Referring to the appointment of industrial magistrates, the Minister said that their duties would be delegated by the court. They would not deal with compensation cases, but would have authority to deal with routine matters. Among these would be hearing formal applications to join parties to awards. The magistrates would not be directly appointed to examine the recommendations of conciliation councils or to convert agreements into awards, but, at the same time, the court -would have power to delegate work of this natufife to them.

The magistrates would act as intermediaries between the conciliation council and the court, and the right of appeal against their decisions would be available to both parties concerned in a dispute. Mr Armstrong said that the Bill would provide power to appoint magistrates, and would not place any limit on the number of appointments, though it was not anticipated that many would bo necessary. The object behind the appointments was to relieve the court of much routine work that is sometimes responsible for delays, and to provide machinery for the smoother operation of industry.