HARVEST-HANDS’ AWARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 786, 5 October 1929, Page 12

HARVEST-HANDS’ AWARD

COST OJE CITATIONS TO PARTIES UNION WANTS NEW SYSTEM Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. Objection to the present method of citing, parties to the harvest hands’ and chaff cutters’ award was taken by Mr. Herbert, union representative, during a hearing in the Arbitration Court. Mr. Herbert said the citation of 10,000 employers individually was not only an enormous cost to the union but also to the Government. When approached, the Prime Minister referred them to the Secretary of Labour, who suggested the court might recommend a new method. The union thought the lists might be printed with the citations and deposited at post offices and advertised in the respective districts. The present postage and registration of citations cost £SOO and the cost of envelopes and labour £1,500.

Mr. Justice Fraser said it was a question of law. Everyone had to get a personal citation. lie did not think the court could do anything. Mr. Cookson, for the employers, said the new method would be opposed by every employers' organisation in the Dominion and the judge thought such a drastic amendment must be discussed by the parties. Its result would be that each employer would not have a copy of the claims.

Mr. Cooksun said there was a suggestion that threshing mill owners could be cited instead of farmers, which would limit the numbers. undertook to obtain the views of the Farmers’ Union.