DRIVERS’ AWARD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10376, 6 April 1927, Page 5

DRIVERS’ AWARD

EFFORT TO ADD COUNTY COUNCIL AVORKERS

PROTEST BY EAIPLOYERS

PALAIERSTON N„ April 5. Comment upon the method adopted by the Drivers’ Federation in its endeavor to make county councils parties to the Dominion drivers’ award was made by Air B. L. Hammond, employers’ counsel at the Arbitration Court to-day. The Federation, through its counsel, Air A. Parlane, brought forward an application by the drivers of Kairanga County for an award to w'hieh Air Hammond objected, on the grounds (1) that the union was not authorised to make the request on behalf of the county drivers. It might be. he said, that a majority of the drivers had signed the application. but he alleged that they had done so under pressure from union organisers, wdio stressed, the operation of the preference _ clause, thus leading the men to believe that non-unionists would be sacked. Secondly, it was only a ffortnight since the Court expressed disapproval oi unions citing* individual local bodies after the' main award had- been disposed of last year, when the counties had been struck off the list of bodies cited. The Union was asking that this court deal with one county to the detriment of the remaining 129. Air Hammond stated that he had been instructed, by the. New; Zealand Counties’ Association to protest. The union was obliged to show that the Kairanga men were dissatisfied. They had been, Air Hammond alleged, suddenly pounced upon by the union organisers and forced to. sign under fear, the Act being used to foment trouble instead of improving the condition of the workers. . Evidence was given by drivers, a majority of whom declared them so Ives satisfied with the present conditions, hut denied there had been threats of forcing them to sign the application. . . . The Court reserved its decision.— P.A. /. * '