The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1926. BOARDS TO BE MANNED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1926. BOARDS TO BE MANNED

Agreement has been reached in. the freezing dispute up to this point; The men are to return to work pending the result of an applicatipn by both parties to the Court for a new award. 'Once again the conciliation system has justified itself; and not for the first time in our industrial history. It is something for which to be thankful that the boards are to be manned again; at least, they will be manned if instructions are obeyed. That is by far the better way. The other, and worse, way would have been for the workers to have’ refused to go back until their demands were met. Along that road lay possible embarrassment to the industry and certain economic trouble for the unions. And there is trouble enough of that kind as it is, without manufacturing more by refusing to compromise. The freezing industry could nqt afford serious interference at the present time. The workers could not afford to lose their wages indefinitely by providing that interference. In the circumstances, the parties were wise to face the realities and refer the control issue to the proper tribunal. The final wqrd remains with the Court, which has power to amend or generally review its own award if both parties jointly apply to that end. Whether the Court will alter the present rates of pay is another question. The existing award does not expire until June next; that is one point. A second emerges from repeated declarations of representative employers implying the necessity for a reduction in running costs. It is unlikely that the Court will make any reduction in wages. It may be asked to do so in the hope that it will steer a middle course between reduction, on the one hand, and an increase, on the other, and leave the rates as they now stand. Such a decision would probably not be regarded by the men as a casus belli if they felt there was a chance of securing some monetary concession later on.