INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1932, Page 9 (Supplement)

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS.

A SECOND COMMISSIONER.

The appointment of Mr. Samuel Ritchie, solicitor, of Invercargill, as Conciliation Commissioner for six months under the Industrial Concilation and Arbtratiou Act, is announced. It is understood that the new com-, inissioiier will operate in Canterbury, Otago, Southland and tho West Coast districts, the North Island and Marlborough being covered by Mr. P. Hally, who has for some time been the only commissioner. The appointment of a second commissioner has been made in anticipation of an increase in work arising out of the Amending Act of last session for, in addition to dealing with industrial disputes caused through awards expiring, the Conciliation Councils will be called upon to review agreements, if thia course is desired, before they have expired. The power to appoint additional conciliation commissioners for periods not exceeding one year was contained in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act passed by Parliament during the recent emergency session. It was then emphasised by Government speakers that conciliation proceedings were expected to play a much larger part in industrial disputes than previously, for, although it was to be compulsory for parties to a dispute to go before a Conciliation Council, if an agreement were desired, it was to be merely optional whether the proceedings should go to the Arbitration Court. It is stated officially that, although two of the commissioners will be kept busy during tho next few months, it is not anticipated that more appointments will have to be made. With one commissioner in the South Island and one in the North Island, it is considered that they will be able to cope with the work offering. Many awards will be expiring in the near future and in every instance the conditions of the new law relating to industrial disputes will apply. Any party to a dispute may take a case to a Conciliation Council, but disputes will not automatically go to the Court. As in the past, in a local dispute affecting only one industrial district, at least three assessors on each side must agree to a dispute going to the Court if there are four assessors on each side. If there fire less than four assessors on each side they must be unanimous before a dispute can be tsent on to tho Court. A ■ Dominion dispute will not go to the Court unless, where there are Bii or more assessors on erich aide, at least five on each side agree to that course. The assessors must be unanimous if there are less than six. Even although certain awards may not be expiring shortly they can be brought under review. According to the new law, cither party to an award or an industrial agreement call apply for revision if the agreement has been in force at the date of the application for not. less than six month*, and, if it ■has an uitexpired term of not less t.han three montliri. Should the Conciliation

Council fail to arrive at a settlement of the dispute or adopt a proposal that it should be referred to Court, tho agreement in question shall cease to operate and the award shall lapse.'