NEWSPAPER REPORTERS' AWARD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 13

NEWSPAPER REPORTERS' AWARD

B ' ■ OBJECTIONS OF A CHRISTCHURCH PAPER. (By, TeleerttDn.—Press Association.) Chrlstohurch, December 17When application was made at the Arbitration Court to-day to add the Canterbury Publishing Oompany to the Christchuroh Newspaper Reporters and Proof Readers' Award, Mr. E. 0: Huie,' on behalf of the company, opposed the same. When the dispute had originally come before the Oouro he said he had opposed his company being joined on the ground that totally different conditions prevailed with regard to it. This application he submitted practically amounted to one for a now award.

Sir. D. G. Sullivan, the union's representative, stated that when the Court was dealing with this matter Mr. Huie, at the olose of a long day, desired to addresß the Court. The Court was not disposed to hear Mr. Huie at that time, and it simply postponed hearing him to the timo "his paper commenced publication. The award was made in June, 1913, whereas Mr. Huie's paper was not published till February last. Mr. Huie averred that in connection with his paper the circumstances were different to. those prevalent in regard to other papers. Mr. Sullivan said Mr. Huie's paper was in competition with other papers whioh were bound by the award. It was quite* unthought of that the Canterbury Publishing Company should be exempted from the operation of the award, any more than the parties in the line of business covered by other awards should be exempted from those awards.

Mr. Huie s stated that his company published just one paper, whereas other companies published! three. He submitted- that the present application was for a new award, and voiced as his objections to 'the making of such that, firstly, the conditions with regard to bis paper were different to those in connection with the others; and, secondly, that since the award was made war had broken out, which had brought about completely different circumstances. The other papers were old established concerns, and most people knew that tho new concerns must feel the pinch more.

Mr. Sullivan averred that it had never been the custom of the Court in his experience for the financial position of new parties to cause the Court to grant exemption.

His Honour said the best plan would be for' Mr. Huie to submit to the Court his grounds for opposing the adding of his company to the award and the Court would then hear evidence on such.

Mr. .Huie said he had much on the lines of what he had previously stated. He handed a type-written sheet to His Honour.

In.reply to Mr. M'Cullough, Mr. Sullivan said that three awards and agreements had been made in New Zealand, and in each of them both morning and evening papers were provided for. In Auckland and m-Dun-edin, where agreements were in force, the evening papers were not connected with morning papers. His Honour said the Court would go Into the points raised_ and ascertain what further information they might require. His Honour said he had not seen .the award before, and he would read it. in conjunction with Mr. Huie's objection, and he would then tell the parties what course to adopt.