LABOR MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 178, 14 December 1912, Page 5

LABOR MATTERS.

IN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. ARBITRATION COURT AWARD UPSET. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 13, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, December 13. The High Court delivered judgment on j the shipping companies' application for a prohibition against the President of the Arbitration Court and the Merchant Service Guild enforcing an award, fixing the wages and conditions of members of the Guild. The main objection to the award was that with regard to some of the firms affected no dispute existed beyond the limits of one State. The Chief Justice, in the course of his judgment, laid down that a dispute must be actually existing and actually extending belyond one State before Federal powers were exercisable, and mere mischief makers could not, by the expenditure of a few shillings on paper, ink and stamps, create such an occasion. He held that the time of the notice given by the Guild to shipowners to enter into an industrial agreement or convene a conference was absurdly inadequate. Such a notice could only be regarded as an ultimatum, and the suggested conference was illusory. There must be a real opportunity to discuss an industrial claim before it could develop into an industrial dispute, and proper time must be given. The present case was not an evidence of unadjusted differences between the applicants and their employees. In the light of the date of the notice lie considered that the objections raised were good. Mr. Justice Barton concurred. Mr. Justice Higgins dissented. An order for prohibition was granted, thus upsetting the Arbitration Court's award. THE RAILWAY STRIKE. A FURTHER DEADLOCK. ABORTIVE CONFERENCE. Received 13, 11.5 p.m. London, December 13. Eight policemen, ah inspector and two 'bus conductors gave evidence that Knox was drunk. There were only minor contradictions of the evidence. The conference lasted twelve hours, and was resultless. The company is willing to reinstate Knox if Mr. Chester Jones, the presiding magistrate, finds that the conviction was unjustified, and are willing to withdraw the summonses. A deadlock has arisen over a refusal to dismiss volunteers who joined during the strike., The men promoted must, the company insist, remain in their new. rank. The difficulty is purely one of principle, and probably only fifty strikers will be compelled to await vacancies.