REVIEW OF AWARDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 7

REVIEW OF AWARDS

. COUET RESERVES ■ DECISION. : (By Telegraph.—Presa Association.) ■ ' ( Auckland, February 22. 'At the Arbitration Court, Mr. Kosser, 'representing, various unions, spoke in 'support of the application for a review of • awards, v--He said' eonie employers iwho had given large sums to' the patriotic funds had shortened hajtds. to' recoup themselves. The prices of the necessaries of life had' increased,- and the increases lad been passed- on to consumers. The Dominion finance, according to the Hon.' James Allen, was prosperous,, and some industries had benefitted tremendously as the result, of the ,war. He suggested that, the Court should take into consideration \ system i|of short-dated awards. .- Mr. Grosvenor,- representing the employers, in opposing the application, Stated that, with possibly one. or two exceptions, there had since, the war 'been' a marked diminution all through the Dominion in - the yolume' of trade and business in every industry. Employers were endeavouring to fmd work to -keep the regular staff of employees engaged, " in many instances incurring monetary loss. The increased cost of .production, due to higher freights and .•war insurance,' constituted, a serious Jburden wbioh could not be passed on to the public, while there had been a (marked diminution in production. . After hearing further arcument, the Judge intimated that - the Court would probably come to a decision after hearing evidence in Wellington

THE FUNCTION OF THE COURT. After healing argument in connection with the proposal that the Arbitration Court should take up its full functions and put aside the decision not to consider further awards during the war. His •Honour Mr. Justice Stringer said: "I 'do not wish to express my opinion yet, as a matter of fact I have had no time to consider the position fully, but take, for instance, the dairying industry, which was mentioned this morning. -Suppose it is in a flourishing condition, and that owing'to the Court's decision the workers concerned are unable to Work under any but the conditions linger which they have beem engaged for some time, why should we do 'nothing ■ for the dairying industry just , because ; the engineering trade is bad. . Mr. Grosvenor, referring to Mr. RosBer's, reference to the flourishing state of the chemical workers'trade; remarked that the cost of production had risen Very materially. His Honour: "You seem to assume that if the Court decides to re-open for purposes of considering awaras that rises in wages will follow', 'necessarily. The Court. I must romind you, will be open simply to consider -claims brought before it. Then it will be time for you to bring evidence about the state of the trade concerned.,. At present we have only to decide question of an abstract principle." further argument took place, and then His Honour announced. that he would hear, as already arranged argument in Wellington, but that as far as he could see at'present,, he did not think; it would be necessary to argue the mattef in each centre. He anticipated that within the course of the next two or three weeks the Court would have,an announcement to make in regard to the matter. The matter will come before the Court in Wellington about March 10 or 11. (r. W. Pryor will address the Court on oehatf of the employers, while Mr. E. 'J. Carey; will conduct tne.sasftJoc jgrofeffla* 1