“IMPROPER TIME”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 4

“IMPROPER TIME”

40-HOUR WEEK CLAIM DEFERMENT SUGGESTED COURT CARRIES ON (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A suggestion that the international situation has reached a stage where the hearing should be adjourned, was made by Mr. H. G. Bishop, who appeared for the employers when the dispute between the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants Industrial Association of Workers, on behalf of the retail grocers’ assistants and drivers, and employers was called for hearing in the Court of Arbitration at Wellington yesterday. “I think I can say with the greatest sincerity that if the unhappy possibility did arise,” said Mr. Bishop, “both the workers and employers would be able to present a united front. We are sitting here to discuss, among other things, a five-day working week or 40 hours and other conditions, all of which it is perfectly legitimate and natural to raise at any normal time, but I do not think that now is the proper time. I want to ask the court whether it thinks that this case should proceed, or whether it should suspend such cases till the situation seems to be a little clearer.”

Not Reason for Suspension

Mr. A. W. Croskery, who appeared for the workers, said he agreed with Mr. Bishop that if the time did come he felt sure that all British people in this Dominion would present a united effort, but he did not think that should be accepted as a reason why the court should suspend the hearing of the case. Neither the court nor themselves knew a great deal except that Japan was at war with New Zealand. As time went on the court might consider a temporary suspension of its activities necessary, but he did not think that was any reason, now that the dispute had come to the actual day of the hearing, why it should be delayed.

Judge Tyndall, who presided, said the court had no jurisdiction to suspend its activities. If it seemed advisable that the court should not go on, there were other authorities to instruct it. Accordingly, now the dispute had been brought to hearing, he considered it should go on. Personally, he fully appreciated Mr. Bishop’s point of view, but he did not think that at the present that they should abstain from carrying out their statutory duties, though it might be against their own feelings.