UNDUE DELAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23163, 8 October 1938, Page 14

UNDUE DELAY

SETTLING DISPUTES INDUSTRY DISTURBED ARBITRATION COURT BLAMED V' ' y : ; ■■. ■ ' ' "Delay in settling 'industrial dia« * putes has been a disturbing factor in industry during the past year," states the report to be. submitted to the 37th annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association on Thursday night. "The delay has caused discontent among workers and inconvenience to employers, who have been unable to estimate labour costs in advance with any degree of accuracy. "Responsibility the delay must ?5y rest with the Arbitration Court, which has failed to lay down and follow, a definite and comprehensive'policy in settling disputes," the report con- || tinues. "The Court has made pro- ' nouncements regarding wages which ; have not been expressed in clear terms, ~ and the Court has not been consistent in its interpretation of them. If the Court laid down the policy it intended to follow without variation for a sped- * fied term, disputes would be settled promptly. There would be no accumulation of work and workers and em- \"r ployers alike would be more satisfied." - The report states that new industrial \ legislation increased the work of employers' associations and the New Zealand Employers' Federation. The Auck- "■' land Association assumed responsi- •' bility for supplying its members; with ' \ copies of claims made by workers'." unions and the new awards. The. service was necessary 'to keep employer* in touch with industrial matters affect- ; ing their businesses and extra staff war required to meet the position. The association took over the secretarial work of several new trade associations during the year and now conducted such work .for 31 separate groups of employers, the report adds. ■ ; : The present membership numbered 1130, including 109 new members enlisted in the past year. The net surplus over revenue was £1568, a loss of £157 being shown in the account covI ering the Empire Building, which wa* recently sold.