DISPUTES COMMITTEES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 16

DISPUTES COMMITTEES

SCOPE OF DUTIES DEFINED WAGES AND HOURS EXCLUDED The opinion of the Industrial Court, presided over by Mr. J. A. Gilmour, S.M., on the question whether it was competent for a dispute committee appointed under an award to decide matters affecting rates of pay, was sought yesterday. The application arose from a dispute between the Auckland enginedrivers' union and the Auckland Meat Company. Mr. J. Clark represented the union and Mr. W. E. Anderson the company. The- award, it was stated, provided that the weekly hours for shift workers should not exceed five shifts of eight /hours each shift, including crib time, where no meal hour was allowed. The company was alleged to have worked in the past six shifts, but this had now been remedied by the employment of another man. The magistrate ruled that it was the function of a disputes committee to promote the harmonious working of an award by assisting in settling only disputes arising under an award not relating to rates of pay or hours of work. Mr. Gilmour considered that if the parties in the present case were unable to reach an agreement, the only solution appeared to be an action foxalleged breach of the award.