COURT OF ARBITRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18464, 27 January 1922, Page 6

COURT OF ARBITRATION

WORKERS’ REPRESENTATIVE. MR REARDON’S POSITION. (Feom Due Own' Cobbespondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 26. .Many trade unionists in Christchurch consider that the Government has decided to postpone any election in connection with the Arbitration Court vacancy. It is stated that Mr Roardon has resigned his position as secretary _ of the Wellington Freezing Workers* Union, and there is a strong bolicf at Qie Trades Hall that ho , will carry on for a year as acting workers’ repreeentative in place of Mr M'Oullough, instead of as deputy workers’/ representative, the position to which ho was elected. This moans _ that the ordinary three-yearly election will take place next January. “ I have no doubt whatever that Mr Reardon lias received intimation of his coming appointment,” said a Trades Union secretary to a Star representative. Though an election ■was expected to fill the vacancy caused by Mr M'Cullcmgh’s resignation,. the Government for some reason has seen fit to change its mind. It knows Mr jßoardon. Perhaps it feels dubious about the next election by the workers themselves. The tendency of all new legislation is to give the GovernorGeneral increased powers in respect to the appointment of workers’ or employers’ representatives on the Court of Arbitration. This is a most undemocratic step,.and ought to be fought all the way.'" t 1 .. For some time preparations have been going on to ©loot a workers’ representative, but now everyone concerned seems to be waiting for the Government’e announcement. The election ■ is already overdue. Auckland unionists have nopiinated MV Bloodworth, Christchurch has nominated Mr Renn. and Dunedin nominated Mir J. T. Paul. The latter, however, declined to allow his name to go forward. It is pointed out that if Mr Reardon becomes the acting workers’ representative an election should he held to appoint a deputy workers’ representative. Here again the Government has brought down legislation to meet the case. The latest proposed amendment gives the Governor-General power to leave the vacancy open. If this course were followed there might be a serious hold-up of court work. In the event of, say, Mr Reardon becoming indisposed or refusing to sit for some other reason, there would bo no one to take his place.