INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 41, 18 January 1944, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

FEWER THAN SINCE BEGINNING

OF WAR

Less time was lost in industrial disputes throughout New Zealand in the lirst nine months of last year than in any similar period since the war began. Coal mining heads the list as the industry Avhich has lost the most working hours*, and it has taken second place, only once in the last four years. Up to September 30, 1943. the latest date for which oificiai figures arc available, industrial disputes were responsible for the. loss of 9152 working days, compared with the 50,3-15 days lost in the same period of 1942. Other comparative figures, are : 1911,, 21.029; 19-10, 19 r 067; 1939, 11,551. The working days lost arc counted as those during the actual period of the dispute. : The latest Abstract of Statistics | shows that there were -18 industrial i disputes throughout the Dominion up to September 30, against 57 in the same period of 194:2., Fifty-three firms were affected, and 7491 workers were involved. The. approximate loss of wages to the workers was £12,7o0„ compared with £61,823 in the same period of 1942. The coal mining industry had 29 disputes in the period under review, in which 7529 working days were lost. This was followed by llaxmilling, with 958 days lost, and meat freezing with 541. In 1942, meat freezing headed; the list,, with coal mining a close, second, and shipping and cargo working third. The lirst three places in 1941 were occupied by coal mining, meat freezing and land transport.