COMMONSENSE BASIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19997, 24 July 1939, Page 12

COMMONSENSE BASIS

DISPUTE SETTLEMENTS DE P ARTM'ENT'S PROCEDUR I' REPLY BY MINISTER (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. . A reply to the statements by the secretary of *he Canterbury Freoz-, incr Works and Related Trades’ Union, Mr. 11. Kilpatrick, was made cm Saturday by the Minister ot Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. The Minister said that Mr. Kilpatrick was evidently not aware. cf ‘he provisions and intention behind the provisions of the legislation passed last week in view of his sjatement that, provided the Minister gave his department full support in enforcing awards, the legislation was entirely unnecessary. “The enforcing of awards is not affected by 'the recent legislation, as the legislation is aimed at the prevention of unnecessary stoppages of work and, in no case within recent years at any rate, has a stoppage taken place because of an award by the department," said Mr. Webb. “Generally, a stoppage arises out of a disagreement with the terms cf an award and not because of the failure to enforce a provision in an award. “Mr. Kilpatrick mentions the case of dining and dressing accommodation in. freezing works. The department has endeavoured to enforce the provisions regarding accommodation and. in most of the works, as stated by Mr. Kilpatrick, the accommodation is now satisfactory. In one or two works, however, the work is not cemuleted, but the department is still dealing with the matter. “Recently, as a result of representations made to me by union officials, the department has issued instructions to all inspectors that before proceedings are taken in any case, unless of course the circumstances of the breach are serious the union and the employer concerned must he consulted by the department's officers with a view to adjusting the matter. Failing such adjustment, then proceedings would be instituted. This is regarded as the c'ommonsense way of dealing with disputes under the alleged breaches that may arise as. after all, it is more important that matters should be adiusted jo the satisfaction of all parties, than to obtain a penalty.”