WHICH AWARD?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8189, 2 August 1912, Page 1

WHICH AWARD?

DOMINION OR LOCAL ? BAKERS’ DISPUTE SENT ON TO ARBITRATION COURT.; FBESS association. AUCKLAND, August 1. The Auckland Conciliation Council sat this morning to hear the ■ dispute died by the Bakers’ Union of Workers, .tlr T. Harle Giles (Commissioner, presided. Air 0. B. King conducted the cause for the employers, and Mr Veale appeared for tho union. The union asked for a local award, but the employers said they could only consent to a Dominion award, as suggested by the Arbitration Court. It was experienced by tho union that they ~ad endeavoured to apply for a Dominion award, but tho regulations under die amended Act were at fault, and the uning toll through, the Judge of the court advising that the unions should apply for local awards. The employers contended that.it was useless • to bother with local awards, as they were sure, from what the Judge said, lie intended to make a Dominion award. They were not prepared' to consider the question except; at the last place where the disputes were called beiore the Conciliation Councils, and they ■vould then submit any proposals they •night have to offer. Tne Commissioner said . the whole trouble arose from the absurd regula cioris which had been dratted under the amending Act. At the same time he urged that it would not bo wise to disperse without mak.ng some attempt to arrive at au understanding. 1 He was sure that when the Judge advised that local disputes should ho filed, his idea was to - get the recommendations from the various centres, and from' them compile a Dominion award. • The union representatives 'said the men had decided to abandon the_ idea of a Dominion award, and were willing •to abide .by a local one. They were beginning to get restless, as the conditions wanted readjusting, and were determined to get before the Court at its next sitting in Auckland. It looked as if there would be a deadlock,, but at the suggestion of the Commissioner and assessors an adjournment was made • and- the employers' assessors said they would discussi the mattef among themselves. When the council resumed Mr King said 1 the employers had decided that they could not offer any evidence or consider the dispute further in its present -form.

Mr Veale entered a protest on behalf of the union against the action of the employers, as being calculated to. delay settlement. The Commiss’pner intimated that the matter would be sent on to the Arbitration Court. He.regretted very much that such a course was necessary, but jf. course each side was entitled to its opinions, and no doubt the employers would be able to explain their attitude when the ‘matter came before 'the court.