ARBITRATION AWARDS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 9

ARBITRATION AWARDS

PROPOSED ABROGATION

RAILWAY ECONOMIES

..MELBOURNE, 22nd September,

Au application is beirig made before the Commonwealth Arbitration Court for the sotting aside of all awards affecting railway men in the Eastern States in order to permit of economies and retrenchment. ■.-,..

There was a dramatic development to-day, when. Mr. Evatt, K.C., asked leave to intervene on behalf of the Commonwealth Government to oppose the application. Mr. Evatt argued that the whole ; system of arbitration was imperilled. The. Government was vitally interested, seeing that full effect had been given to its industrial legislation, including the maintenance of awards, and that if this; were not done a position of national emergency wose than that now existing might be created.

Mr^ Evatt alluded to the possibility of a severe industrial upheaval, and submitted that if the State railway systems were allowed to work without awards, then similar applications were bound to arise in regard to private employers. Mr. Evatt's application to intervene was deferred until Monday next. •. \ '

Chief Judge Dethridge said the Court was not concerned with the rights of the Commonwealth or the States, much loss with the political aspects of tho case. It was concerned only with the rights of the Railway Commissioners, as employers, and thoir employees, arising under their awards. The Court was equally conscious of the fact that fcho setting aside of awards might cause discontent and possibly lead to a stoppago of operations. -