Short Awards Raise Complaint

Grey River Argus, 12 March 1947, Page 5

Short Awards Raise Complaint

CHRISTCHURCH, March 10. The main reason for delays in the hearing of awards was probably that the unions were all asking lor oneycar awards, said Mr Justice Tyndall, during the hearing of the case lor the Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Shop Tailoring Trades union in the Arbitration Court. For the Union, Mr John Roberts said that discussions had been opened with the employers last October, but claims had not been brought befoie the Court until now. A. term of one year was sought for the award, and he could see no reason against this. “Perhaps,” said Mr Roberts, “the employers’ advocate (Mr H. F. Butland) could give a reason why the award should not be for the term of z one year.” His Honour: “Perhaps the Court can give you a better reason. This one-year-award business has been overloading the Court.’’

“No new award had been applied for three and a half years,” said Mr Roberts.

Mr Butland said that Mr Roberts had failed to mention two major amendments to the award by which wages had been increased since 1943. “I think that this discounts the statement that the same award has been operating since then,” he said.

His Honour “That is the trouble. These days new awards are being sought every six month.”

“It has been our policy not to go for a new award frequently, and I think we have been penalising ourselves because of that,” said Mr Roberts.