ARBITRATION MATTERS

Evening Star, Issue 22797, 4 November 1937, Page 10

ARBITRATION MATTERS

SECOND COURT PROVIDED WILL DEAL WITH COMPENSATION AND NATIONAL DISPUTES RACING CLUBS BROUGHT WITHIN ACT (From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 4. Provision is made for the temporary appointment of an additional Judge of the Aibitration Court and the appointment of two associates in the Arbitration Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House by Gover-nor-General’s Message this afternoon. The measure also authorises the court to delegate certain powers to special magistrates, who may be registrars or deputy registrars of the Supreme Court or clerks of awards. These magistrates will not have the authority to make awards or fix wages, and there js a provision giving both parties to the dispute the right of appeal against the decision of magistrates. Simplification of the procedure for citing employers in conciliation council disputes is also embodied in the Bill by reducton of the existing costs. An amendment also brings chartered clubs, racing clubs, and hunt clubs within the provisions of the Arbitration Act. These organisations have previously been exempt from awards under section 155 of the Act, which places certain workers not engaged for pecuniary gain ahd their employers outside the scope of awards and agreements. Other organisations which have this privilege are not affected by the amendment. The Minister of Labour said this morning that they had tried to avoid setting up separate Arbitration Courts because of the danger of conflicting points of view. However, the court was so far behind with its work that it had become necessary to take steps to provide it with some temporary relief. It was necessary to get out of the impossible position facing the country to-day. The new court would continue in operation until the present position had been eased. The court would most likely deal with ooimpensation cases and also with national disputes.