WANTS TO WORK OUTSIDE COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19268, 3 January 1931, Page 9

WANTS TO WORK OUTSIDE COURT.

PROPOSAL MADE BY TRAMWAY BOARD.

A proposal is to be made by the Christchurch Tramway Board to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court. The general manager for the Tramway Board (Mr Frank Thompson) has written the following letter to Mr E. Snow, secretary of the Christchurch Tramway Employees’ Union:—

“With respect to your union’s proposal for a new award following the one terminating on February 1 next, I am directed by the board’s committee to say that it proposes that the board should withdraw its consent to working under the jurisdic-

tion of the Arbitration Court, and that it should exercise the powers given it by section 28 of the Christchurch Tramway District Act, 1920, under which it may appoint for such period and on such terms as it thinks fit, returning officers, managers, engineers, secretaries, clerks and other officers, servants, and workmen. “The board’s committee suggests that this should be submitted to the Arbitration Court at a special sitting to be held at the end of January, about which I wrote y'ou on December 19 last, for another purpose. “It is suggested in view of the importance of the matter that both parties should be represented by counsel if the Court approves. “If the Court should decide against the board’s proposal, the board would hie a cross-citation. Proceedings before the Conciliation Commissioner could then be instituted, the final result to be ascertained as soon as possible • after. the expiry of the present award on February 1 next.”