NO STANDING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 265, 3 August 1920, Page 6

NO STANDING

POSITION OF UNREGISTERED UNIONS

ARBITRATION COURT'S IMPORTANT RULING

AWARD GRANTED TO TIMBER WORKERS

An important point of general interest to industrial unions cropped lip in the Arbitration Court yesterday • afternoon during the taring of certain matters relative to the application of the Wellington timber and sawmill porkers for a new award. Mr. Justice Stringer presided, and with him as assessors wore Mr. W. Scott (for the employers) and Mr. J. .A. M'Cullough (for the employees). Mr. W. A. Grenfell appeared for the employers, and Mr. J. Bead for the employees. Mr. C. Grayndler represented the _ New Zealand Workers' Union (which is concerned with the oranised workers in the timber industry in thfe King Country). When the dispute was before the Conciliation Council a complete agreement was reachcd as to work, wages, and conditions within a 25-niile radius of Wellington. The Court had to deal with the application of tho award to those workers in the district outside the 25-milo radius, particularly in the King Country districts. King Country Men Dissatisfied,

At the outset Mr. Bead objected to the King Country Union (which opposed the award) being represented at the hearing. He contended that' the King Country workers had no standing whatever in the Court as their union was not registered under the Act. Ho quoted an earlier judgment of thei Court as supporting his contention.

_ His Honour, after reading from tho judgment quoted, commented that it seemed to be in point. Mr. Grayndler submitted that the precedent referred to by Mr. Bend had no bearing on _ths present case, as the Wellington union had afforded the lung Country • workers no facilities whatever to join their ranks. The King Country workors resented the attempt being made to include them in the scope of an award by a linion which in the past had neglected them.

Mr. Grenfell also opposed the King Country Union being represented at the hearing. He pointed out tfoat tho union had only taken action when it found that tho local union was moving in the matter. The King Country employers had been observing thei conditions set out in tho Wellington award, although it had not yet been made applicable to that district. The dissatisfaction with tile agreement fixed up by the Wellington Union came from a wry few disgruntled men, whose business'was to stir np industrial strife. Tho Court should not take cognisance of r union which flaunted the Arbitration Court and called it names.

The Court retired to consider the point, and during tho interval represen-. tntives of tho opposing unions indulged m a free and acrimonious discussion. The Ruling of the Court. On the Court resuming, His Honour said that after careful consideration it wns of opinion that it could not, without over-ruling the former considered judgment of the Court (quoted by Mr. Bead), allow the persons represented "by Mr. Grayndler to appear in opposition to the present application. The Arbitration Court only recognised, so far as the workers were concerned, unions duly registered under the Arbitration Act, and it had before it a list of employers duly cited- by a registered union. These represented the complete parties to the dispute, and, as held by Mr. Justice Siin, the Court would not —except in exceptional circumstancesallow any other party to intervene in such dispute, and take part in the proceedings.

His Honour went on to say that he was sorry that, perhaps to some extent on his own invitation, Mr. Grayndler lwd gone to the trouble of bringing a witness to Wellington in order to renresent the King Country Union. However,' hti would take the necessary steps to see that tho expenses of this witness were reimbursed by the Court. The Court hnd looked thorough the award, and it did not consider that the workers represented by Mr._ Grayndler had any ground for "sup-, posing that it was not a very fair and reasonable award. The rates fixed seemed to be very fair, if not liberal. lie reminded Mr, Grayndler-that if the King Country workers wished to have the award amended or modified in any way their 'best plan would be to exercise their right of joining the Wellington Union and take part in its administration. Then when the union went before the Court again—the award had only about 18 months to run—they would have a fnll opportunity of voicing their interests. In the meantime the Court must hold in accordance with the ruling of Mr. Justice Sim. An award would accordingly be made in terms of the agreement arrived at between the Wellington Union and the employers. The Court tbien considered the .position of engine-drivers engaged in the industry, and it was aereed that they should come within the scone of the award, on the understanding that they would receive the same wages as paid under the engine-drivers' award.