THE ARBITRATION COURT SITTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12212, 6 March 1903, Page 5

THE ARBITRATION COURT SITTINGS.

STATEMENT BY MR. JUSTICE

COOPER.

THE CRITICISMS IN THE PRESS.

At the conclusion of the sitting of the Arbitration Court yesterday, His Honor remarked that during the present session the Court had heard 61 cases, of which 15 were original trade disputes, a number were workers' compensation cases, and of the 27 or 50 other applications some were of considerable interest. Of the disputes several were of the utmost importance. The Court had now a clear list. They reserved judgment in two matters only—the application of Southern manufacturers to bind the Auckland manufacturers to, the Southern log, and an application for enforcement against Mr. George Fowlds. The list had been an exceptionally heavy, one. While it was no part of the duty of the Court to make reference to any statements that might be made in the public press—they were not even in a position to reply or make any statementthey felt that the Court, while sitting in Auckland, had been, as when sitting in other parts of the colony, dealing out even-handed and impartial justice to workmen and employers. However the awards might work, the Court had endeavoured to cause as little dislocation in the trades as possible. The Court sat for the purpose of administering the law, and did so fairly, and to the best of their judgment and ability. Mr. Rosser remarked that, as one engaged in the majority of these disputes, personally conducting one side in many of them, he could bear testimony to the patience with which the Court had listened to all the matters coming before them. He dissociated himself entirely from any hostile criticism that might be made against the Court. As a worker, he was perfectly satisfied that the awards made were quite fair and impartial. In some instances, the men had not got all they asked for; in other cases they had got more. Mr. Templer, on behalf of the Employers' Association, endorsed the remarks made by Mr. Rosser in respect to the fairness of the Court. The statements which had obtained publicity through the press were not; he thought, directed against the Arbitration Court itself, but against the law. The employers were perfectly satisfied that the Court had been actuated by a desire to be impartial in the matters that had been dealt with.