COURT AND COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 3

COURT AND COUNCIL.

ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION

PROCEEDINGS

MR JUSTICE STRINGER’S. \TEvVS.

During tho Hearing of the painters* dispute at the Arbitration-Court yesterday, Mr H. Hunter,* representative of the. Christchurch Industrial Painters’ Union of Workers, referred to certain matters in connection* with the painters’ dispute that had been discussed at the Conciliation Council proceedings, .when.he was interrupted by the President, bis Honor Mr Justice Stringer, who objected to Conciliation Council discussion being ventilated in the Court. " Tlie President said that Conciliation .Council proceedings 'should : bo taken, completely without prejudice. 1 Parties who went before, the Conciliation Council to make proposals should bo permitted the utmost freedom of speech in support of arguments for their respective sides, but there the matter should end. ' It was’- quite improper to. take the discussion and expressions of opinion further. It depreciated the value of evidence‘and involved mo Court in mentioning before it. what took place at Conciliation Council proceedings- ' Every' facility • should be given for free discussion in the Conciliation Council;' but the mind of the Arbitration Court should be kept free, in regard to what had taken place. He hoped that lie would not again have occasion to refer to the -matter. Ho would like liis remarks to become generally known. . , Air Hunter agreed with the President. but asserted that .the was "being pursued all over tlie country •in the struggle by the unions to secure a fair wage. .Tlie struggle among the working classes was keen, and the _ matter had not been referred to with a view of influencing the Court.