ARBITRATION LAW

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 12

ARBITRATION LAW

RELIEF FOR EMPLOYERS

IRKSOME RESTRICTIONS

THE YEAR REVIEWED

The annual report of the Wellington Employers' Association, which was,pro-, sentcd to a meeting of the organisation today, contains interesting comments on certain phases of the industrial posi-

"The 1932 amendment to the Industrial Conciliation ana Arbitration Act, 1925, lias, by tho-drastic change .mado in tho procedure outlined for conciliation councils and by the widening of the powers of such councils, enabled employers' organisations ,to . remove award restrictions in cases where it,. is not possible to obtain satisfactory terms ana conditions from the workers'; representatives," states the report. "Because of these advantages .' being made possible many sections of employers have obtain relief which hitherto had not been possible, arid consequently the number -of awards to be brought before conciliation councils has .been greatly increased, due, no doubt, to the extremely difficult trading conditions existing. "The past year has not only been move difficult, but has been more important to employers who have endeavoured to obtain conditions fitting to ■their business and trading conditions. . "Prior to tho 1932 amendment to the Act, employers were compelled to accept conditions embodied iv awards by the Court of Arbitration, ;but under tho present law it is possible to reject unreasonable conditions, and in some cases employers have received considerable benefit thereby. h ■ '. ■ ' "During the year seven awards w.cro allowed to expire because of the parties not being able to reach agreement; iu the conciliation councils. In two cases fresh applications were made • for ■ new awards by the workers' representatives, which resulted, in obtaining awards with conditions, more suitable to the employers in the industries concerned. PRIVATE HOTELS. "In the Dominion Private Hotel Employees' award, which expired ou September 23, 1932, the workers'^ union took advantage of the provisions of section 7 (5) of the 1932 Amendment, and made application to the Court of Arbitration to fix the rates of wages for females in private hotels. Follow^ ing the hearing of the application beforo the Court, when the employers and workers' representatives presented lengthy and fully thought-out cases, tbo Court of Arbitration-made an order fixing tho wages for females in private hotels on a much lower scale than ruled in the expired award. By the cancellation of the Dominion Private, Hotel Employees* award, tho private hotelkeepers have obtained, by, the removal of many irksome provisions, greater freedom in Tespect to th-e employment of male workers than was possible under the old conditions. '' The Wellington Industrial District Butchers' award dispute caused a somewhat drawn-out and strenuous fight, which extended over a peried of eleven months. The workers' union set out to break the Wellington Master-But-chers' Association by calling »to, its assistance a few master butchers carrying on business in a very small way, with a view to combining to make an agreement, which was expected, by them to bind all master butchers in the district. A conciliation council,, which was constituted by tlio appointment of four workers' representatives and four master butchers, selected by the: workers' union, came ■to an agreement on March 9, 1933. This .necessitated action being taken in the Supremo Court, an< as a.result the agreement was declared to be null and void by Mr. Justico McGregor on May 24, 1933. Immediately thereafter further efforts, were made by the workers' union to make another agreement, but owing to the solid front presented by the employers, the union, realising the position, decided to discuss terms with, the employers' association with the result, that an agreement was reached on, line* acceptable to the employers. ■ "In the Wellington Coach and Motor Body, Builder s' award ands the Wellington Horse and Motor Drivers' award agreements were not reached and both awards were allowed to expire. Soon after the expiration of these awards the respective unions made further application for awards with^ the result that agreements suitable to the employers were made and are now in operation. : ■ In the Motor and Horse Drivers' dispute, the parties failed to reach' an agreement, and the Dominion Drivers' award expired. Soon after, however, the Wellington Drivers' Union- filec claims for a local drivers' award, and subsequently an agreement: was reached on much better conditions than hitherto. "WhiUt1 the handling of disputes has become more difficult under the amendment of 1932, the result of the amended law has been that relief hitherto impossible has been made possible." • "•' A DIFFICULT TEAB.' ' " In moving the adoption of the report, the president (Mr. H. Mainland) said that the association dur,ing each year had proved of greater value ' to employers. . "As the report shows," , said Mr. Mainland, "the past year has been a very difficult one from a business standpoint. Employers have been tried j severely by the loss of trade caused through the depression that has overshadowed the world. Indications at the moment convey to us that the outlook j is brighter than it has been for some time past, and I look forward with hope to better times for all.. .. Our objective is to give the best service* and advice on industrial mattors which, on account of the past legislation, have become more complicated. This, together with difficult times, has increased the load that has fallen on employers, causing anxiety at a time w.hcn what trading there is to be done is meagre and very keenly competed for.". ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr. H. Mainland; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. D. J. McGowan ami W. McLay: executive, Messrs. W. H. Ballinger, E. Bull, W. Burton, W. S. Cederholm, H.'Coull, A.: J. Curtis, W. J. Gaudin, W. Hopkirk, W. A. Kellow^ E. E. Kent, J. L. Broun, D. J. McGowan, D. Milligan, G. Nicholls, W. Nicol, F. J. Oakes, D. F. O'Reilly, W. Parkin, L. R. Partridge, D. H. Taylor, W. Tunley, B. Sutherland* W. Gamble, E. Brooking, J. Munt, and V. Larcombe; representative on Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. W. S. Cederholm; auditor, Mr. T. W. F. Marsden; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. J. Mountjoy.