ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1922, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE WATERSLDERS’ DISEUTE. METHOD OF PROCEDURE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 21. In the Arbitration Court the parties to the waterside workers’ dispute were unable to agree upon the date and place of hearing. Mr. Roberts, for the union, said they were half way through the hearing of the disputes before the Conciliation Councils in various ports, and the union would not be ready to proceed with the case next week. If separate awards were made there would be 28 different awards for the watersiders in the Dominion. He suggested that if the case was heard in different centres, then a Dominion award might be made. Mr. J. Smith, for the employers, said the application was for a local award. He could see no reason why the case should not be heard here where the conditions applied to 98 per cent, of the conditions in otiier ports. Mr. Justice Frazer said the Court preferred to hear a dispute in at least two centres before giving an award in a big dispute. The parties ultimately agreed with the suggestion of' Mr. Justice Frazer that they should meet him in Chambers in the afternoon to discuss the method *f procedure. On behalf of the Wellington Trade-; Council, Mr. Kennedy, president, asked the Arbitration Court for information and direction in reference to the 1922 Amendment Act and the powers of the Court to vary the wage rates according to the movement of the cost of living. Mr. Justice Frazer said the Court had received notice of the questions submitted and the members had discussed them. The Court hoped to furnish answers this week. Tn orfler to give ample time for their consideration, the Court proposed to fix a date about April 26 to hear argument on the points raised.