Minister Corrects Union Secretary

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 172, 24 July 1939, Page 7

Minister Corrects Union Secretary

NEW POLICY OVER AWARD BREACHES Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. A reply to the statements by the secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Works and Related Trades Union (Mr. H. Kilpatrick) was made on Saturday by the Minister of Labour (Hon. l\ C. Webb). The Minister said Mr. Kilpatrick was evidently not aware of the provisions and the intention behind the provisions of the legislation passed last week in view of his statement that provided the Minister gave his department full support in enforcing awards the legislation was entirely unnecessary. “The enforcing of awards is not affected by the recent legislation as the legislation is aimed at the prevention of unnecessary stoppages of work, and in no case, within recent years at any rate, has a stoppage taken place because of , failure to enforce an award by the department," said Mr. Webb. “Generally the stoppage arises out of a disagreement with the terms of an award and not because of failure to enforce a provision iu the award. “Mr. Kilpatrick mentions the case of dining and dressing accommodation in freezing works. The department has enforced the provisions regarding accommodation, and in most of the works, as stated by Mr. Kilpatrick, the accommodation is now satisfactory. In one or two works, however, the work is not completed but the department is still dealing with the matter. “ Recently as a result of representations made to me by union officials the department has issued instructions to all inspectors that before proceedings are taken in any case, unless of course the circumstances of the breach are serious, tho union and the employer concerned must be consulted by the department’s officers with a view to adjusting the matter. Failing such adjustment then proceedings would be instij tuted. This is regarded as a commonsense way of dealing with disputes under alleged breaches that may arise, as after all it is more important that matters should be adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties than to obtain a penalty."