THE QUASHED AWARD

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 11

THE QUASHED AWARD

DEFINITION OF “INDUSTRY” MINISTER'S ANNOUNCEMENT. WILL FOLLOW AUSTRALIA’S LEAD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Wedn The acting-Minister of Laboifl* ihe Hon. P. C. Webb, says the attention of the Government has been drawn io a recent decision of the Court '6? Appeal with regard to the meanfh* fcf the word “industry" as defined hT th® Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Aot, 1925. Under the Court’s decision this is held to mean the Industry in which both employer and his workers are engaged. For over 30 years the Court of Arbitration has adopted the view that "industry" may refer either to the business in which an employer and his workers are engaged or to the ocoupation of workers irrespective of the nature of their employers’ business. It would be seen, therefore, that the decision of the Court of Appeal will have very far-reaching effects, and the Government has, therefore, had to consider what legislative action, if any, it proposes to take to meet the position. A similar question arose in the Commonwealth of Australia in 1911, the same interpretation being placed on the word “Industry” In the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act as has been done by the Court of Appeal here. As a result, the Commonwealth Legislature passed an amendment to the Act to make it dear that the term “Industry" could refer also to the occupations of workers irrespective of the class of business carried on by their employers, and this legislation was made applicable to all organisations affected by the decision as if the amended definition of “industry" had been In force at the date of the registration of such organisations. It is dear that a considerable amount of oonfusion will result from the deolsion of the Court of Appeal, not only so far as clerical unions are oonoerned but also amongst longestablished unions In other callings, and the Government feels that the proper course to adopt is to Introduce legislation along the same lines as was done in the Commonwealth of Australia.