ARBITRATION COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1936, Page 13

ARBITRATION COURT

RELIEVING THE PRESSURE [I’EB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, December 20. “It seems that quite a fair percentage of the cases referred to the Arbitration Court for decision comprise minor issues which could -be easily settled outside the Court,’’ said the Minister for Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) on Saturday, in referring to complaints about delay in the settlement of demands for new industrial conditions. “There would be less cause for complaint if the Court’s time were taken up by major issues, such as wages and hours of work. “1 am not anticipating any necessity for setting up a second Arbitration Court to deal with the extra demand arising out of thc-uew industrial legislation,’’ (oiHinned the Minister. It may be necessary to establish u. separate tribunal for dealing with industrial compensation cases, thus relieving the pressure on the Arbitration Court. There is no authority under the existing law to establish an additional Arbitration Court, even if it were agreed that it was practicable to have two such Courts -functioning at the same time. It is possible,, however, to set up a separate Court to deal with claims arising from industrial accidents. 1 intend to go into the matter immediately after the holidays, and see if there is in the existing law some means whereby any relief can be given to the Arbitration Court in dealing with the numerous demands upon it.”

GLUE WORKERS’ DISPUTE. CHRISTCHURCH, December 20. “To-day. on present basis of costs, it would' definitely pay better to shut the plant, dismiss the workers, manufacture in Australia, and pay the duty —even if it is increased—to bring it into New Zealand.” This was a statement made in Conciliation Council on Saturday, by Mr. D. I. Macdonald, one of the employers’ assessors. The Canterbury glue workers’ dispute was under discussion, the parties being the Canterbury Freezing Works and Related Trades Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers, and Davis Gelatine (N.Z.). Ltd. After agreement on some minor clauses of the Union’s claims, the employers’ assessors made an offer covering wages and holidays, and the employees’ assessors were granted an adjournment to January 14 to place the proposals before the workers concernled.