INDUSTRIAL AWARDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1939, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL AWARDS

SHORT TERMS PREFERRED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.’] WELLINGTON. October 12. Comment on. the general reluctance of parties to .industbial disputes to come to agreements or awards for longer periods than 12 months was made by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. IVi. .1. Reardon) when the Dominion dispute in the printing and related trades was being heal'd before him to-day. “1 have been more than three years in this position," Mr. Reardon said, “and 1 don’t, think 1 have had five cases where the parties have agreed to an award for a longer term than 12 months. When I was an interested party 15 or 20 years ago we often agreed to a three year J erm. A worker’s assessor: There have been changed conditions. They are fluctuating now. Years ago they were not. Mr. Reardon: 1 think that is what is crowding the amount of work the Arbitration Court has had to face. It. is true there have been other circumstances. such as illness and so lorth, which were unavoidable. It is clear to mo that the Court, has made up its mind to a. certain course of action, ami I think you are wasting your energies going to the Court, when \cu know you will get what the Court has said you will get.’’ Air. Reardon added that, when the Court, was prepared to make, an alteration in wages it. would take a typical case and allow parties to bring evidence on the question. The agent, for the workers. Mr. K. Baxter, said the council was not considering the question of increases in [general. Il was considering , only those which came under the Court’s [pronouncement. “With all due inspect to you as men. ami you are enj titled to that.” Mr. Baxter said Io the [employers’ assessors, “some ol join [complexes do not correspond, with ours from the workers' augie.