SEVEN AWARDS DETERMINED

Southland Times, Issue 23375, 6 December 1937, Page 4

SEVEN AWARDS DETERMINED

Relief Of Pressure On First Court

TWO DECISIONS OF IMPORTANCE

(Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, December 4.

Although the Second Arbitration Court has functioned only since November 26 or exactly a week its undertaking a daily schedule of work has enabled the other, court to complete some important cases and make pronouncements upon awards which might otherwise have been delayed within the period of its recess. Since November 26 the Arbitration Court, comprising Mr Justice O’Regan and the lay members, Messrs W. Cecil Prime and A. L. Monteith, has determined no fewer than seven awards, dealt with an appeal against a magistrate’s decision that workers should be paid for statutory holidays falling on days when normally no work is done, and made several orders to add parties to disputes. Consideration of these matters has meant concentrated effort on the part of the court and sittings which invariably have involved working until late at night. ■ Two decisions, at least, called for deep consideration since both had to be decided with a view of anticipating their probable effects upon industry - generally, the Birkenhead sugar workers’ dispute and the appeal to which reference has already been made. The increase of 5/- a week for adult workers and 3/- a week to shift workers at sugar works have virtually become precedents for future awards. The Arbitration Court, in recess still, has a great deal to do before the Christmas vacation. There are no fewer than 20 awards to oe considered as well as six applications for interpretations of awards and questions upon the exemption of parties to disputes, but now that the second court is to hear the Dominion dispute of the freezing workers at Auckland on December 13, 14 and 15, Mr Justice O’Regan’s court will be able to concentrate upon the considerable volume of reserved matters awaiting consideration. It is hoped to clear all these up before Christmas.