CARPENTERS AWARD

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 June 1948, Page 5

CARPENTERS AWARD

ACTION IN CONCILIATION SAID TO BE PREMATURE EMPLOYERS GET THE HEARING OF NEW AWARD HELD UP (P.A.) Wellington, June 23. Because of an allegation by the employers that the claims of the union had been filed several days earlier than the law allowed, the Conciliation Council in Wellington today did not proceed with an application of the New Zealand Carpenters and Joiners' Union for a new New Zealand (except Otago and Southland) carpenters and joiners’ award. The union adopted a go-slow policy early this year to press claims for a wage increase of l&d which would have raised the basic hourly rate to 3s 81d. This claim was rejected by the Court of Arbitration ana was again rejected on the appeal. The union accordingly took steps for new conciliation proceedings at the earliest* opportunity, and embodied in its claims a wage rate of 4s an hour, an increase of sd. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. S. Ritchie), who presided over the Conciliation Council, said today that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbietration Act provided that no proceedings for a new award might be brought earlier than two months before the expiry of the existing one. The existing award in this instance would expire on July 1-J.

Mr. Ritchie said that when conciliation proceedings were opened Mr. C. G. Camp, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, on behalf of employers who are not builders but employ carpenters, raised the question whether the application of the union was filed earlier than the Act allowed. He alleged that the papers were filed with the Clerk of Awards at Auckland on May 10, a date several days before the expiry of the necessary time limit. Because of this allegation the employers’ assessors said they were not prepared to proceed further at this sitting. The actual date of filing was disputed, said Mr. Ritchie, and the question of the legality of the alleged filing of claims was referred to the Court of Arbitration for determination.

A statement will also be made to ’■he Court, under Section 53 of t’ne Act, that the council failed to reach a settlement of the dispute. Assessors for the union were: Messrs J. R. French (Auckland), F. L. Langley (Christchurch), Jamieson (Wellington), W. Moore (Wanganui), D. McEwen (Auckland), P. L. Hardcastle (Auckland), and R. Stanley (Auckland). Assessors for the employers were: Messrs S. G. Shearer (Eastbourne), H. J. Hulse (Auckland), J. W. Graham (Christchurch), H. A. Toneycliffe (Timaru), J. Patterson (Wanganui), A. B. Davis (Napier), T. N. Dickson (Wanganui). J. R. Sutton (Auckland) and E. R. Glass (Wellington).