CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16159, 13 March 1918, Page 10

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

GENERAL LABOURERS' DISPUTE. RULED OUT OF ORDER. JJr W. H. Hapger, Conciliation Commissioner, presided at the Conciliation Council yesterday morning when tile dispute between th© Canterbury G:ncrai -.aboureio' L'nion a?:d tho cmploveis »;i« heard. The Union v. its represented !'y E. J. Howard, it. Worrall. ar.rt ]•.. namuton, while tile employers' representatives wcie Messis 11. litoadhead, W. 11. Winsor, and K. Nightingale. The Union »=ked tor a 10 per cent, increase on the wages now yaic. Tlie existing award, which baa '■< currency until March 12tn. lOln, vontams tile following in the wapes clause: — "So long as the Britith Empire remains in a state oi war v.'uh Uermany and Austria, or either of them, and for three months alter the of fcuch war, :here shall oc paid to ml workers comiug' within the scope of this award, in addition to the rates above mentioned, a war bouui ci 10 per cent, upon the paid rates. "Notwithstanding the foregoing clause the f.iid war bonus may at any time during the currency o{ the award l>e continued ' it hur wholly or partially, or may be increased .or terminated as the Court, on the application of any party to the award, or ot its own motion, may determin"." Mr Broadhead pointed on: that the award was still in operation, and did not expire until 1919. The Union was therefore out, of oracr in seeking the increase of wages asked .'or while the award was still in existence, ax Iho application was not merely concerning the the wor but tor an tixed v.agc. To prove that even the Court had no power to alter an award during < \ ur r lencv on the application of a dissatisfied nivrtv, Mr Broadhead quoted a judgment of M r Jufitioer Coop;i, a!so one recently delivered by Mr Justice Stringer m tlm •winters' case. He jViintod out that Ine whole working o{ the Arbitration Act would be -upset by such a course as that taken by tho Union being successful, as ihcrc would be no security for employe™ who had enter into business contracts on the .raais ot the awards. He therefore a=ked that the dispute bo abandoned, and the case struck Mr Howard acknowledged 'hat the objection raised by Mr Broadhead was va.idHowever, he alleged that all the builditi were now payingjnore than the aw;ml vot tho general /abourors were hit harder r>\ present conditions than any other Ecctl °"; 'Ho asked that the employers increase the bonus from 10 -per cent, to 20 per cent. Tho Commissioner, in upholding the oD-v-etion, suggested that the Union Keek to induce the employers, to enter into an industrial agreement, or that tho Union make un application to the Court for an increase .n the war bonus. • Mr Howard said that the Court would oe asked for directions, as tha case raised "Tn P rep n iy a request from. Mr Broadhead that in the event of the Union application to the Court for an ivar bonus, tho employers bo •ji'.cn. notic . '.ho Commiseioner said that the Court w <.ttend to the matter.