THE NEW BONUS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18584, 10 December 1920, Page 4

THE NEW BONUS.

JUDGMENT ON MONDAY. [Pee Press 'Association/} WELLINGTON, December ?.. When the Arbitration Court sat today, the President said that the Court had not yet been able to arrive at a decision in regard to the general ques-. tion of the bonus, but would be able to do so in a few days. Further speeial applications would be adjourned until Monday, when judgment would probably be given on the main issue, In regard £o the'latest contention S*» behalf of the- unions that the basis adopted for the first bonus in March, 1919, was incorrect, the Court had conferred with the Government Staiig;ticiap, and might as well state at ones that it was not'necessary to' go into .the points raised, for . the reason that rightly or wrongly, the Court hj.d ■ adopted a certain basis in 19J9, and it :.,- was quite impossible to review basis. If the Court .insisted on retaining the basis then it must awnffie \ that the Government Statistician's i t figures were correct. .. ..'_"•' ' i Mr Reardon: I suppose that is the ■ position if tho Court cannot see its, way-;.-/. to alter the basis. -,-'-. The President said that any aifcffration now would lead to all sorts of complications.. • •'-■ '.*.'. •.-,; .:.■ • Mr Reardon said that he must neoessarily. accept the computation of tte© Government Statistician. ME.M'Combe said that jf the Court found it impossible to alter the basjs it could hot very well alter the bonuses already granted. If two mistakes nM been made they should standThe President: We wul go tab ".' Whole que?tionv fi' When Mr Reardon attempted to show that the employers* -agitation against the bonus commenced before the G/ju&fc made the announcement, the President said that be did not want to go into that question. He regarded it as an insult to suggest that the jCjurt. •wtf.t .; likely to be influenced by any" agita-/ 1 ' tion. The Cburt strongly resettled such an inference!; - '■=:".- : ;.: ' '£roZ