“A CHOPPING BLOCK.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 6

“A CHOPPING BLOCK.”

WATERSIDERS AND COURT PROCEDURE. “ It seems unfortunate that a Court of Justice should be made a sort of chopping black at a time ot political excitement. We can only set an example by kepeing out of politics our selves.” In those words his Honor Mr Justice Frazer yesterday disposed of recent criticism of the Arbitration Court. The Court had before it an application for an amendment to the preference clause in the watersiders’ award, in the direo tion of increasing the fees payable by members of the union. The union was represented by Mr J. Roberts, secre tary of the New Zealand Watersiders' Federation, while the employers were represented by Mr B. L. Hammond. Mr Roberts contended that a mis take had occurred in the recent award in the paragraph relating to levies, it was now desired that tho rates should be fixed at- Is per week for the first month and thereafter 13s per quarter or £2 per annum. It would bo im possible for many of the unions to carry on under the rate fixed on the awards (os entrance fee and £1 per annum). The Court was also asked to make it clear that the financial year of the union ended on December 31 of each year. “ The federation, through its spokes man, Mr Roberts, indulged in abuse of the Court,” said Mr Hammond. “ Ic represented the award as a travesty ot justice. It suggested that the watersiders'would please themselves whether they worked under the award or not Mr Roberts went out of his way to disparage the personnel of the Court." Mr Hammond said that the employers Aere entitled to know the views held by the officials of the federation at pro sent, and whether Mr Robert*} had recognised the error of his ways that, he should now come asking favours from the same Court which lie asked the public to believe was the vile institu tion he alleged. His Honor said that the Court would perhaps be inviting Mr Roberts to say something that would be contempt **f Court if he said it there, but that would not be if he said it through the newspapers. “ There is a law in the country deal ing with industrial affairs, and the watersiders, like all other people, must submit to it.” said Mr Roberts. He could make no other promise. Hi* Honor, dealing with the application. said that they could only assume that there had been a misunderstand ing. and the Court was prepared to make an alteration.