INDUSTRIAL CLAIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24144, 10 December 1941, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL CLAIMS

SUSPENSION URGED NO POWER GIVEN COURT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A suggestion that the international situation has reached a stage where the hearing should be adjourned was made by Mr. H. G. Bishop, who appeared, for. the employers,.,when the dispute between the New Zealand federation of Shop Assistants' Industrial Association of Workers (on behalf of the retail grocers' assistants and drivers) and the 'employers was called for hearing in the Court of Arbitratidn to-day. "I think I can say with the greatest sincerity that if the unhappy possibility did arise," said Mr. Bishop, "both the workers and the employers would be able present a united front. We are sitting here to discuss among other things a five-da? working week of 40 hours and other conditions, all of which it is perfectly legitimate and natural to raise at anv normal time, but I do not think that now is the proper time. I want to ask the Court whether it thinks that this case should proceed or whether it should suspend such cases until the situation seems to bo a little clearer."

Mr. A. W. Croskery, who appeared for the workers, said lie agreed with Mr. Bishop that if the time did come he felt sure that all British people in this Dominion would present a united effort, but he did not think that should be accepted as a reason why the Court should suspend the hearing of the case. Neither the Court nor themselves knew a great deal except that Japan was at war with Now Zealand. As time went on the Court _ might consider a temporary suspension of its activities necessary,'but he did not think there >as any reason, now that the dispute had come to the actual day of hearing, why it should be delayed. Mr. Justice Tyndall said the Court had no jurisdiction to suspend its activities. If it seemed advisable that the Court should not on there were other authorities to instruct it accordingly. Now that the dispute had been brought to hearing he considered it should go on. He fully appreciated Mr. Bishop's point of view, but he did not think at present that they should abstain from carrying out their statutory duties, although it might be against their own feelings.