WITHOUT JUDGE

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1937, Page 10

WITHOUT JUDGE

Arbitration Court SITTING AT AUCKLAND. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 23. A sitting of the Arbitifation Court of a very unusual character, in that there was no presiding judge present, was held in Auckland to-day. The special procedure wtjs nece sitated through the absence of Mr Justice Page on sick leave, and was adopted in an effort to expedite business that has accumulated foil the court.

The business before tho court vyns the recommendation made in 22 industrial disputes in which a complete agreement had been reached between the parties in. Couciliat'on Council. The court was. represented by Mr A- L- Montieth (assessor fo:| the unions) and Mr W- Cecil Prime (employers’ representative). Explaining the. position at the outset, Mr Montieth, who presided, sad that thi s .sitting had been fixed by Mr Justice Northcroft,, under Section 78 of the Industuial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925- The sitting;.: would be adjourned to Chr’stchurch, where any awards would be made on April 29,. when the court was proper!} constituted. In the meantime, so that the parties could( get theii( awards, and to save undue delay, Air Primo and he would hoar applications. It would then not be necessary for the parties to be in attendance at the adjourned meeting in Christchurch, unless they so desired.

lu several cases in which tilery were applications, for exemption, Air Monteith explained that Air Prime and he could not deal with these, and if an. award was to bo made in Christchurch, if. would be necessary for the partes to consent to the applicants being stijuck out in the meantime. An application to add them again could be made at next, sittings of the court in. Auckland. The parties agreed to this suggestion .in every case- In; almost all of the disputes; the employers were represented by Air H. J. Bishop, of Wellington (assistant-secretary of N.Z. Employers’ Fedeiiation). The unions concerned were represented by about a dozen different secretaries.