IRONWORKERS' STRIKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9740, 4 March 1914, Page 6

IRONWORKERS' STRIKE.

sH'JXJE HEY DON'S DECISION. (Bt Electbic Tiligbaph—Copybight.) (PH Fbkir Amooiation.) SYDNEY, March 2. •Judge lieydon's judgment in the cast arising out of the decision of the chairman of * the Ironworkers' Assistants' Hoard not to reopen the award\on ih>; application oi the union, was agains; the union, but .Judge Hoydon incidentally declared that, where 'the wages under existing awards are below the re cent'ly-fixod living wage of £'2 Bs, an award might he reopened. 1 Summarising tho lessons of the case, he said that boards must not hoar tin applications from employers who an locking out or employccs'striking. When either side takes a case into its owi. hands it releases the other side. Parties can always .confer, hut cannot be mack to do so unless the law its being observed. A union could not he punished to: refusing to meet an employer who was locking them out. While confirming his action in refusing to do more than raise the wage oi a general labourer from to, Is pei hour, the Judge expressed sympathy with the men and regretted that he could not reopen the award. He wished that the men would resume work. Ht could then give them a higher wage, but the Court cannot have two measures.