TRIBUNAL’S POWERS QUESTIONED

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 October 1947, Page 5

TRIBUNAL’S POWERS QUESTIONED

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL TO GO TO SUPREME COURT (P.A.) Wellington, Oct. 1. The validity of the decisions made by the chairman of the National Tramways Industry Tribunal (Mr. A. B. Rigg), under the Strikes and Lockouts Emergency Regulations, is to be tested by the Wellington City Council, which proposes to go to the Supreme Court for a ruling on the legal authority of these decisions, and intends to question the power of tribunals under the regulations to over-ride awards. The position is being watched closely by the Tramways Employees Union, but no decision on policy is to be reached until next week-end, when meetings of members of the Wellington branch and of the national executive of the union are to be held.

A report of the Coucil's intention to question the powers of the tribunal in the Supreme Court was confirmed tonight by Cr W. H. Stevens, *£ the Tramways Committee. He said he could not discuss the situation in detail, but said that the Wellington tramway workers, unlike those in other centres, still had an award operating, and its term would not finish until November 28 next. Not only did the council hold that the terms of this award made by the Court of Arbitration could not be superseded by rulings of the tribunal, bu» the council questioned, in particular, the decision to include Sunday inside the 40-hour week. The council would agree to the operation of wages and other decisions of the tribunal, but would not agree to the inclusion of Sundav in the 40-hour week. The secretary of the Tramways Employees Union (Mr. P. A. Hansen) refused to say anything about the position, but in conjunction with Mr. E. W. Gurr, national councillor of the union and Wellington vice-president, he said it was true the tribunal’s decision had been already discussed by tramwaymen at one meeting, and that another would be held on Sunday. He said also that a special meeting of the national executive would be held next week-end.

Mr. Hansen said: "The national executive is not being called to Wellington for nothing. I wouldn’t hazard a guess at what the men may do if a position arises in which it is necessary to tell them that the decision of the tribunal, which, by regulation, is final and binding on all parties, is not going to be observed by the employers.” Mr. Hansen said it was the opinion of the union that the decision of any tribunal under the Strikes and. Lockouts Regulations was binding in its entirety on all parties, and must be adhered to by them.