NO AWARD MADE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1929, Page 7

NO AWARD MADE

FORESTRY WORKER’S CLAIMS. ROTORUA, October, 25. A sitting of the Arbitration Court is being held at Rotorua to deal with nie aplication for- a section of forestry workers for an award. Tlie Court consists of Mr Justice Frazer, Mr L. J. Schmitt and Mr A. L. MonteTth. For the applicant union, Mr Cook contended that conditions were unsatisfactory. He said that the employers had previously refused/to meet them. He quoted figures showing the number of employees and called evidence regarding the conditions of the camps and the nature of the work. For the afforestation companies, Mr S. E. Wright contended that there was no real dispute. The case had been cited by the union with the object of increasing its membership. He called evidence to support the contention that the camp conditions were satisfactory, and stressed the importance of the industry as a national asset and the 'immense assistance it had been in relieving unemployment during the winter months. After a half-hour retirement, the Judge announced that a majority of the’ Court had decided that no award should be made. The reasons were that no real dispute had been disclosed, and that the wages now paid exceeded the rates usually paid for this class of work. All reasonable clainu of me workers had been promptly mel by the companies, and no genuine complaint existed. He urged the continuance of this standard. It was- a seasonal industry which had been helping in coping with the unemployment problem.