RAILWAY AWARDS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1930, Page 7

RAILWAY AWARDS

ARBITRATION COURT DECISION. (Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, October 5. The Full Bench of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court has announced its decision, regarding the railways awards. As cabled on September 29tb, the Court was asked by the Railways Commissioners of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia., Queensland and Tasmania to set aside, the awards governing ; the wages and conditions of the workers on the services'of those five :States.. : The? Court has decided tovset aside all,of the rail awards covered, by applications of the Railway Commissioners, except so far as these, related to the basic-wage and to standard hours. It ip announced that I unions . intend ; to appeal, • •.••it In setting aside the ,;. railwaymen’s awards /on. the- States, -.the. Australian Chief Judge, Dethridge, giving the judgement, said: “In a time.of crisis-, necessity, may present a hard choice to. employees, either to .-. give up promptly some award conditions, or to see industry collapse, with- a consequent greater loss to them and a greater injury.to the public interest.” This was a kind of public interest to which the Court, he said, must always pay regard. . ■ , Judge Beely expressed, a hope? that the ; parties, would earnestly seek agreement to tide them over-the next eighteen months. s