SHORT TERM AWARDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 243, 14 October 1939, Page 5

SHORT TERM AWARDS

RELUCTANCE OF PARTIES TO AC C EPT LONGER PERIODS COM MISSIONER’S COM MENT WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. Comment on the general reluctance of parlies lo industrial disputes to 1 come to agreement on awards foz longer periods than 12 months wao made by Mr. M. .1. Reardon, Conciliation Commissioner, when tne Dominion dispute in the printing and related trades was being heard before him yesterday. “I have been more than three years in this position,” Mr. Reardon said, ’and I don’t think I have had five cases where the parties have agreed to an award for a longer term than 12 months. When I was an interested party about 15 or 20 years ago we I often agreed to a three-year term.” A workers’ assessor: There have been changed conditions. They are fluctuating now. Years ago they were not. Mr. Reardon: I think that that is what is crowding the ai/.ount of work the Court of Arbitration has had to ; face. It is true there have been other circumstances, such as illness and so ■ forth, which were unavoidable. It is ■ clear to me that the Court has made ■ up its mind to a certain course of i action, and I think you are •wasting your energies going to the Court when you know you will get what the Court has said you will get.” Mr. Reardon added that when the Court was prepared to make an , alteration in wages, it would take a . typical case and allow the parties to bring evidence on the question. ; The agent for the workers, Mr. K. . Baxter, said the council was not con- ’ sidering the question of increases in > general. It was considering only thOcC . which came under the Court’s proj nouncement. “With all due rcspeqj. to you as men, i

and you are entitled to that,” Mr. Baxter said to the employers’ assessors, “some of your complexes do not correspond with ours i'om the workers' angle.”