REQUEST BY UNION

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 107, 1 November 1940, Page 9

REQUEST BY UNION

CHRISTMAS SCREENINGS

PETONE COUNCIL'S VIEW

The question as to whether a local body would be justified in making a decision in a matter affecting a dispute between employers and employees was discussed at a meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening. A letter from the New Zealand Theatrical and Places of Amusement Employees' Union requested the council to refrain from granting permits to screen pictures on Christmas Day, in the interests of the employees.

Councillor J. R. Gaynor moved that the matter be referred to the Municipal Association, as it was not an affair to be decided by individual councils.

! "For disputes such as this apparently is, we have a conciliation council and an Arbitration Court," said Councillor H. Green. "They have the power of negotiating and finally fixing hours of work, wages, and holidays. Why have the employees come to us? I say that this request is quite out of order. This is a dispute between employers and employees, and does not concern us." He moved an amendment that the union should be advised that the council did not feel justified in giving a decision in the matter.

Councillor A. M. Macfarlane agreed with Councillor Green, and stated he believed that many of the men and women employed by theatres were in other occupations during the daytime. It was not a 'whole-time occupation with them, and if it was with others the matter should be thrashed out in the Arbitration Court. On the face of it, it looked like a back-door way, not perhaps of circumventing the employer, but of ensuring that no one should have pictures on Christmas Day.

Councillor E. N. Campbell also spoke in favour of the amendment. Councillor Gaynor withdrew his original motion, and the amendment was carried unanimously.