REPLY TO PRESS COMMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12604, 6 March 1903, Page 5

REPLY TO PRESS COMMENTS.

In bringing the sittings of the court to a close, Mr Justice Cooper said that 61 cases ltad been dealt with. One-fourth were original disputes. There were a number of compensation cases and 2,7 to 30 other applications, some of considerable importance. Only two mattes remained unsettled, one being the application of the southern clothing manufacturers to bind tho Auckland manufacturers to the southern log. While it was no part of the duty of the court to , refer to press comments, he might say that tho court had always dealt out the most even-handed justice to both masters and workers. However the awards might work, the court had endeavoured to cause as littledislocation as possible in trade differences. They had to administer the law, and had done so fairly and impartially, and to th> very best of their judgment and ability. Mr Rosser, Labour representative, testified to the fairness and impartiality of the court. Mr Templar, representing the employers, endorsed Mr Piosser's remarks,' and said the press criticism arose owing to faults in tha act, not in the judgment of the court.