ARBITRATION COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 October 1929, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT

FORESTRY AWARD REFUSED.

(Per Press Association.)

ROTORUA, October 25

A sitting of the Arbitration Court is being held at Rotorua to deal with the application of a section of the forestry workers for an award. The Court consists of Mi- Justice Frazer, and Messrs Schmidt and Monteith. For the applicant Union, Mr Cook contended that the conditions were unsatisfactory. The employers had previously refused to meet them. He quoted figures showing the number of employees, and called evidence regarding the conditions of the camps, and the nature of the work. For the afforestation companies, Mr S. E. Wright contended there was no real dispute, that the case was cited by the Union with the object of increasing the membership. He called evidence to support his contention that the camp conditions were satisfactory. He stressed the importance of the industry as a national asset, and said it was of immense assistance in relieving unemployment during the winter months. After half an hour’s retirenient, Mr Justice Fraser announced that a majority of the Court had decided that no award should bo macle. Their reasons were that no real dispute was disclosed. The wages now paid exceeded the rates usually paid for this class of work and all reasonable claims of the workers were promptly met by the companies. There was no genuine complaint. He urged a continuance of this standard. It was a seasonal industry, helpful in coping with the unemployment problem.