AN URGENT NEED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11047, 2 November 1921, Page 5

AN URGENT NEED

ISSUE Or AWARD SERIOUS POSITION IN FREEZING INDUSTRY OUTLINED. REFERENCE IN PARLIAMENT. In view of the intimation by the judge of the Arbitration Court that the court could not complete the freezing workers’ award until it had dealt with tlje miners’ dispute and certain Dunedin matters, would the Prime Minister, asked Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne), in the House of Representatives yesterday, take steps to secure t'ie completion of the froezing award as soon as possible? Certain works, stated Mr Lysnar, were to open on the 7th instant, and others during the following week; tuid there was likely to be trouble owing to the statement of the men that they would not start work under the old award. Mr Massey said that he understood the inmaortanco of the question, and would be very glad if it was possible to give a satisfactory reply. Ho could remember what happened last season, when theTe was very serious delay and loss in connection with the opening of the freezing' works —loss, not only to the people immediately concerned, but to the whole country. He hoped that we were not going to have a prepetition of the same sort cf thing this season. The season promised to be one of the very best we had had for some time past, and he recognised the importance of the freezing works being ready as soon as the animals were slaughtered. But the hon. member knew, of course, that he could not, as Prime Minister, or in any other way, bring pressure to bear on the Arbitration. Court. He would!, however, be very glad to consult with the Minister for _ Labour, who was more immediately in touch with such matters, and see what it was possible to do under the circumstances. If it was possible to do as the hon. gentleman had suggested, no one would he better pleased than himself. COURT AWARE OF POSITION. The Hon. G- J- Anderson (Minister for Labour) slated that he knew, that the court was seized of the position, and was doing all it possibly could under the law to expedite the award If it could be done, it would be done. Mr Lysnar: Hold back the 'mining dispute and the Dunedin questions. The Minister: I cannot interfere with the court. Mr Lysnar: But you are pushing other matters on them. The Minister said that he recognised that the mining dispute was not so important at present as the completion of the freezing award; but the court cobid only do what the law allowed. The judge and the two assessors were aware of the seriousness of the position; and he assured the hon. member that the court would do every, thing possible to expedite matters. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South): They will kindly take- the hint. Mr Lysnar: It is to be hoped so. Details of the hearing of the dispute of the Arbitration Chart in Wellington yesterday are reported on page 4 of this issue.