ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17889, 17 September 1921, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

■V : — i- ; i v i"*-.- '-, ■■-■ * MR. McOHJH-IrOUGH?® POSITION. COMPLICATED ,* SIT,DA,TJtON. ATTITUDE OP .DRIVERS, [BY TiStEGBJtPH.—PBBS3 ASSOCIATION.] . ' ' CHBISTCHTJRCH. Friday. Questioned as to his intentions in the matter of the vacancy on the Arbitration Court, Mr. J. A. . McCullough to-day said that at present, owing to the complicated nature of the situation, he would prefer not to say anything, especially as he did not know that a majority of unions -would nominate him, nor did he know, even in the event of a majority of unions nominating him, that he would be appointed. Consequently, it would not be wise on his part to speculate regarding what might or might not take place in the future. The conference of the New Zealand Drivers' Federation, which concluded on Thursday evening, considered" Mr. McCullough's resignation, endorsed his action, and recommended affiliated unions to renominate Mr. McCullough for the position. The conference further agreed that the method of appointing the workers' representative and deputy workers' representative on the Court was unsatisfactory, in that the men nominated for the positions were very often unaware of the fact that they had been nominated, and that one union did not' know what another union was doing. It was decided to recommend the Alliance of Labour to request the Government to. amend the Act to provide that nominations should close on a specified date, the election to take place later, when a full list of candidates would be before the unions. All unions registered under the Act are to be asked to urge an amendment in the direction indicated.

Other amendments to the Act desired are provision for Dominion agreements to be made into an award of the Court without the formality of each union going hefore the Council of Conciliation: and that Sir John Findlay's BUI should be enacted, which provides for a Dominion clerk of awards to give effect to national agreements, and for the formation of national unions.

MB. BEABDON'S ATTCTTDE.

WILLING TO WITHDBAW. [by TELEGRAPH.PRESS association.] WELLINGTON. Friday. A special meeting of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council was held last night to discuss the vacancy caused by the resignation, of Mr. W. McCullouah as assessor for the workers on the Arbitration Court. After discussion, the following resolution was passed : " That in view of Mr. McCullongh'B promise to the Otago Trades and Labour Council to allow unions to choose their representative at a time of less excitement, this council recommends Mr. Beardon to withdraw from the contest and give Mr. McCullough a walk-over for the seat." Mr. Beardon, who was present; made a statement to the council that he was not a candidate ' for the seat against Mr. McOullough. The policy of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council was to make recommendations to unions that would enable the machinery cf the Arbitration Court to be again set in motion. That policy seemed, to be achieved by the resolution to recommend Mr. McCullough. Therefore he would fall in with the recommendations of th© council.