DRIVERS’ AWARD

Southland Times, Issue 20147, 6 April 1927, Page 5

DRIVERS’ AWARD

ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE COUNTY COUNCILS. (Per United Press Association.) Palmerston North, April 5. Comment upon the method adopted by the Drivers’ Federation in their endeavour to make County Councils parties to the Dominion drivers’ award, was made by Mr L. B. Hammond, employers’ counsel at the Arbitration Court to-day. The Federation, though its counsel, Mr A. Parlane, brought forward an application by the drivers of the Kairanga. county, for an award* to which Mr Hammond objected on the grounds, first that the union was not authorised to make the request on behalf of county drivers. It might be that the majority of drivers had signed the application, but he alleged that they did so under pressure from union organisers, who stressed the operation of the preference clause, this leading the men to believe that no unionists would be sacked; secondly, it was only a fortnight since the court expressed disapproval of unions citing individual local bodies after the main award had been disposed of last year, when counties had been struck off the list of bodies cited. The union was asking the Court to deal with one county, to the detriment of the remaining 129. Mr Hammond stated that he had been instructed by the New Zealand Counties’ Association to protest. The union was obliged to show that the Kairanga men were dissatisfied. They had been, Mr Hammond alleged, suddenly pounced upon by union organisers, and forced to sign under fear, the Act being used to foment trouble instead of improving the conditions of the workers. Evidence was given by the drivers, the majority of whom declared themselves satis - -fied with the present condition, but denied threats forcing them to sign the application, i The Court reserved its decision.