ARBITRATION POWERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26542, 18 August 1947, Page 5

ARBITRATION POWERS

CHANGES IN AUSTRALIA CONCILIATION COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED CANBERRA, Aug. 16. The Federal Cabinet has appointed 16 conciliation commissioners to take over powers previously vested m the Arbitration Court for the settlement of industrial disputes. Seven of the present commissioners were reappointed, and nine new men were named. The Cabinet’s decision is understood to have been unanimous, so that balloting among the 400 applicants was not necessary. The proclamation of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act passed last session is expected to follow immediately. This will : bring into operation major changes in Australia’s arbitration system. The commissioners will have full power, except over hours of work, the basic wage, annual leave and minimum female wages in industry, which are reserved to the Arbitration Court. The conciliation commissioners, who will receive £ISOO a year, plus a travelling allowance, will .hold office until the age of 65. but in special circumstances their appointment may be extended to 67 years. ‘ According to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, a commissioner may be assigned by the chief judge of the Federal Arbitration Court to a particular industry or group of industries, and that commissioner shall, so far as is practicable, deal with industrial disputes relating to that industry, or that group of industries. Similarly, the chief judge may assign a commissioner to a particular industrial dispute. A commissioner has power to sum mon anyone to attend a conference presided over by himself or any othei person as he may direct. An award or order of a conciliation commissioner shall not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, or be subject to prohibition, says the Act