ABSENCE OF ASSESSORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 11

ABSENCE OF ASSESSORS

BISCUIT WORKERS* DISPUTE EMPLOYERS NOT REPRESENTED. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 21. No assessors for the employers appeared at the Conciliation Council, which this morning was to consider the biscuit and confectionery workers’ dispute, and theiy non-appearance was the subject of a strong protest by the union representatives, The commissioner is to try to secure the attendance of the employers’ assessors to-morrow. The secretary of the Employers’ Association raised the technical point that no dispute existed, but the union representatives asserted that this objection was not genuine, and that the employers had promised to facilitate the securing of an award, and that the employers had sparred for time until the Tariff Commission left Auckland.

Mr Wright, for the. employers, said they very strongly objected to being bound by an award even if some other centres did not. There was an acrimonious discussion before the Commissioner suggested that he should try to arrange for the attendance of the employers’ assessors; In the opinion of those in a position to judge, the effect of the recent decision of the Apeal Court, as revealed in the Arbitration Court proceedings yesterday, is that at least 80 per cent, of the existing industrial awards and agreements are invalid.