OVER-RIDING OF AWARDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 6, 22 January 1937, Page 6

OVER-RIDING OF AWARDS

-Prean AMOCttttion.l

The Massey Government's Precedent

DRIVERS' DISPUTE OF 1916

CBy T^'ecrranh-

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. -22» Referxing to-day to the question of the Minister of Labour over-riding Arbitration Court awards, Mr. Hiram Hunter, a former member of the Court, in .a letters to'the "Star-Sun" says: '' I wish to inf orm, or at least to remind, you of what took place in the Dfivers' Federation dispute in 1916, when the Massey Government was in power. "The Driver's Federation, ,for which I acted as advoeate, was dissatsfied with the award of the Court, and we waited upon the then Minister of Labour, Mr. W_ H. Herries, and requested him to convene a meeting of representatives of the employers to meet the Drivers' Federation delegates in conference to consider the granting of an amount in excess of the Court award, w,hich was £2 12/- a 'week. We demanded £3. "After some days of negotiation both parties agreed to leave the final adjustment in the hands' of Cabinet. Cabinet dealt with the matter and awarded an extra 6/- a week, making the minimum £2 18-/. This decision was embodied in a Cabinet minute and duly gazetted as such. At the time this was hsraldcd throughout the Dominion as a dangerous • precedent. "Mr_ 'Armstrong (the present Minister of Labour) is therefore following in the footsteps of a gentleman who was respeeted by all parties and honoured for his %een sense of justice.' '