CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22582, 10 March 1948, Page 6

CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

NO TRIBUNAL; APPROACH TO COURT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 10. Cabinet lias rejected the proposal of the national executive of the Federation of Labour that a tribunal be appointed to decide the issues in the carpenters’ dispute. This decision was made at a meeting of the Ministry yesterday afternoon. In a letter subsequently sent to the secretary of the federation, •Mr. IC. McL. Baxter, the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, stated that it was quite clear that there was no legal obstacle in the way of an approach to the Court of Arbitration, and that the Carpenters’ Union was entitled to make a further application for the amendment of its award whenever it wished to do so.

Prime Minister's Letter The Prime Minister's letter will be considered by the national executive this morning. The Prime Minister's reply to Mr. Baxter is:— "Your executive's latest proposals in connection with the carpenters' dispute have been considered by Cabinet. I have to advise you that Cabinet cannot agree to your suggestion that a tribunal be set up under the strikes and lockouts emergency regulations to decide the matters at issue. "The position regarding the right of approach of the Carpenters’ Unions to the Court of Arbitration has been very carefully examined. It is quite clear that there is no legal obstacle in the way of such an approach and that the Carpenters' Union is entitled to make a further application for the amendment of its award whenever it wishes to do so. “As a normal course is. therefore, open to the union, Cabinet cannot agree to the setting up of a tribunal under the regulations to handle the dispute. Accordingly, I would repeat Cabinet’s earlier decision as follows: Observance of Law

“That an assurance must be obtained from the Carpenters' Union that the go-slow will be called off immediately, and that the industrial law will be strictly observed in future by the union.

“In the event of such an assurance being given that it will observe the industrial law now and in the future, no further summonses against the Carpenters’ Union or its members will be issued. The cases in which summonses have already been issued must proceed. “If desired by the Carpenters' Union the Government will then facilitate the making of a further application to the Court of Arbitration for an amendment of the union’s award and/or a start of the proceedings for a new award at the earliest possible moment.” The secretary of the Federation of Labour said last night that a letter had been received from the Prime Minister rejecting the federation’s proposals for the establishment of a tribunal. He said the national executive had no comment to make on the policy of the Government at this stage. The executive would meet today at 9 a.m.