TIME-WASTING ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 16

TIME-WASTING ALLEGED

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS COST TO COUNTRY INCREASED j An allegation that some assessors at Conciliation Councils regarded the meetings as holidays "at Mr. Savage's expense" was made by Mr. A. W. Nisbet, secretary of tho Wellington Manufacturers' Association, who appeared as an ag ..nt for the employers at a Conciliation Council hearing in Christchurch of tho wicker workers' Dominion dispute. Mr. Nisbet lodged a protest against the waste of time that lie contended occurred at some council proceedings. "I wish to protest against tho ivasto of time that occurs in some Conciliation Council proceedings," said Mr. Nisbet before the hearing began. " I would not call it exactly a 'go slow' policy, but these disputes cost the country 'a good ileal of money." The Commissioner. Mr. M. J. Peardon, said lie invariably set aside three days for a Dominion dispute, but in the present proceedings it was possible that they could finish in less than three days. Nevertheless tho interests of men from Auckland to lnvercargill were concerned in the proceedings and it would be a pity to "spoil the ship for a lm'pennorth of tar." "I suppose it is my duty to keep down costs, for I think the Labour Department will be tho subject of criticism, 110 doubt, at. a later sVage in the year," the commissioner added. " No doubt the department is anxious to do its work as efficiently as possible at tho lowest possiblo cost. 1 must admit I have to sign documents every day of the week for very largo amounts of money, and that is a consideration of which the department cannot lose sight. At the same time I don't want to take short cuts that will result in false economy." ■/ i —=