FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1921, Page 5

FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE.

FIRST HEARING ENDED. THE BONUS TO CONTINUE. WORK AT EXISTING RATES. By Telegraph.—Pre>v! Association Wellington, Last Night. At the sitting of the Arbitration Court to-day the freezing works dispute was concluded. Mr. Cookson gave further evidence in support of the employers’’ claims. Two witnesses gave evidence that in their opinion the shift system sought by the companies was necessary from a financial point of view. Under the present system the companies had to pay the ordinary rates for eight hours of the twenty-four, and overtime for the remainder, and when killing was proceeding at full capacity some departments were unable to cope with the work except by working shifts. Mr. Cookson announced that recognising the importance of His Honor’s statement in reference to the continuance of the bonus until the date of operation of the new awards, and in view of the arrangement that awards covering the whole Dominion would be made as soon as possible after the Christchurch hearing, the companies decided to accept the Court’s suggestion to continue paying the bonus. In the meantime the works would be opened at the existing rates, and whatever adjustment was necessary would be made when the awards were available.

At the conclusion of the case, His Honor expressed appreciation of tke conciliatory nature of the proceedings and the assistance rendered by the parties. He hoped some small technical points in dispute could be adjusted bet’ tween the parties before the Christchurch sitting. The Court agreed to take the Christchurch hearing on November 17, 18 and 19.