FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 10

FEDERATION OF LABOUR

CONFERENCE DECISIONS 1 ■ [PER press association.] WELLINGTON, April 17. Dissatisfaction on the part of workers with delays occurring in the issuing of awards by the Courts of Arbitration was expressed by delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, which concluded on Saturdaj r after a session lasting for four days. It was decided to bring the complaint, under /he notice of the Government, and to draw, attention to Section -87 of the-I.C. aiid A. Act, which provides that, except in special circumstances, awards -shall be issued within a month of the. hearing of claims.. ■ It, was contended that delays meant a loss of thousands of pounds to workers.

The Conference decided to ask the. Government, to instruct the Courts to make a pronouncement in favour, of ah 'increase.of wages, just as.the previous Government had instructed the Court to make a similar pronouncement reducing wages. , . ../ A heed for. more effective, marking of Japanese goods was str.ess.ed ;by delegates 'who explained that -the effectiveness ,of the. boycott of Japanese good's imposed by the Federation whs discounted owing to customers'purchasing Japanese goods without kiidwirig t'heir identity. It was decided to make representations to the ■Government in the matter of increased pay for jurors and witnesses in Court, cases, the conference contending that workers were not compensated by the 'present rates for the time lost from their ordinary calling.

Reference was made to “unjustified” dismissals, and the conference agreed as to a policy and course of action’.in the matter.