ARBITRATION COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 17 March 1915, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

BY TELEGRAPH—PW3SS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, March 17. lhe employers' reply to the workers' contention that the Arbitration Court should resume the hearing of industrial disputes was heard to-day. Mr Prior secretary of the Employers' Federation' said that upon the decision of the court depended to a considerable extent the existence of some businesses. The question was as to the further increase of prices m certain directions and the' employment of a not inconsiderable number of workers. The court was really called upon to decide a momentous national question. Mr Justice Stringer said that was too sweeping a statement. The application was only to open the doors of the Court. If an industry would be so seriously affected as to close it up if *an award were made, the Court was to be given credit for recognising that it be continued. ' Mr Prior contended that the application was not calculated to assist employers in their endeavour to maintain normal conditions. It was really an application to enable workers' unions to prosecute their claims for higher wages, shorter hours and more restricted conditions of work. The workers desired the Court to infer that because prices had risen in some directions employers were making an en* hanced profit. -' It must be obvious that unless manufacturers and traders were taking advantage of the needs of the neople. since the demand fell as the price rose, they must be doing a less profitable business than before the war. i-fa proposed to submit information which would show that employers were not only earning smaller profits, but were in many cases carrying on business absolutely at a lorn. Argument is proceeding.