INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

PARTLY SETTLED MATTERS. JUDGE QUOTES AN OLD RULING* " Experts on both sides are in a better position than the Court to settle many of the technical clauses in these cases," said Mr. Justice Frazer in the Court of Arbitration yesterday when advising the parties in two disputes which had been referred to the Court after a partial agreement had been arrived at, to confer again before finally bringing the matter to Court, Referring to the deadlock . that had arisen over conditions in one dispute, His Honor recalled a ruling made by Mr. Justice Sim when president of the Court, that where an award had been made several times incorporating the same class of conditions, the Court would not make an alteration. "I want to make it quite clear, however, that the effect of the ruling is not as harsh as it is worded," added His Honor.™ "It does not bar progress, nor does it mean that where ; circumstances change no alteration will be made. But ip ordinary circumstances that is the attitude of , the Court." It was for that reason, said His Honor, that he wished the parties to have another conference!. As a means of reaching a settlement, he suggested that in each case the employers should concede any demand that was, reasonable, and that the union should drop any claim that they knew would not t>e accepted by the Court. "We are not trying to evade our duty," added His Honor- "It is merely for the sake of promoting a satisfactory settlement. If you cannot agree on them, the wages 'clauses may be referred to us—we are used to dealing with such matters—but technical matters are best settled between- experts." ' % ■

The parties affected intimated that the conference suggested by His Honor would be possible. Dates for the hearing of the disputes, following the conferences, were fixed.