The Industrial Year.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1923, Page 1

The Industrial Year.

DEVELOPMENTS IN 1922

THE POSITION REVIEWED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 5

it was pointed out to a “New Zealand Times” reporter yesterday that the past year had been an interesting one from an industrial point of view Early in 1922 trade and industry were suffering from post-war depression. A fall in wages became inevitable because of inflation. Legislation was passed in 1918 enabling the Arbitration Court to adjust wages to the increase or decrease in the cost of living at periodical intervals during the currency of awards. This had an important bearing on subsequent, events. “During the years that the cost of living/ was increasing,” it was stated, “wages were raised to meet the same, '[’lie court acted on a six-monthly moving average, a basis which met with considerable opposition from the workers. They pointed out that their wages were not keeping pace with the cost of living. Quite so. Ihe workers. however, are now being recompensed that wages are being reduced. The six-monthly moving average is acting to the advantage of the worker now their wages are on the downward grade. “ft was recognised that the true test of the arbitration system would come when the time had arrived for a reduction of wages, and that proved to he the case towards the close of the war However, it may be said that the system has stood the test well. The court has made two orders last year reducing wages. I lie first, in May, made 1 n reduction of live shillings. There • was a further reduction of three shil- * lings in November. Although strong opposition was made by the representatives of the men. the bulk of the workers realised that the conditions of trade and industry necessitated a reduction in the costs of production, and. what is more important, were ready to honour, the bargain whereby they received increases proportionate to the cost of living and were to sutler corresponding decreases. UNEMPLOYMENT. “There was an unusual amount of unemployment throughout the winter, but much of t,lm consequent hardship w.i mitigated h\ relict woiks instituted by the Government and municipal bodies. It is quite probable that, the stale of the labour market had the effect of preventing' industrial strife (hiring the year. It is probable that it will again have a similar ell'ocf in the immediate future, with the prospect of winter ahead. It is true that the

conditions of trade and industry are improving, and the end of the year saw a marked change for tlm better. Tin- Dominion is emerging from a period of slump and general depression. Whether it will wholly recover its former prosperity depends largely on the ellieiencv in production, which is more or less dependent on industrial pence. At present there are. dark clouds looming on the industrial horizon. ■■The Arbitration Court had a particularly strenuous year. The fact that: there was a minimum of indtis--11 ini strife is a tribute to the impartiality of the Court, and the success nf flic system. The minor stoppages of work'that occurred during the year were purely local, and invariably the workers came off second best. H was not a time for strikes. the ABIMTBATKIN COURT. “Awards were made in disputes by the court a fleeting all branches id marine, shearing, engineering, and other sections of industries and trades of importance to the colour' s genual prosperity. In the ease of the watersillers the Court made a substantial icductioii in rates with a view to making a Dominion award with more or less uniform conditions. Tins class of labour had not hem before the court for some years. Although eutain criticism was indulged in, the end of the year saw the men working peacefully under the provisions ol ibis award. The seamen also had not been before the court for some years. I heir award caused certain dissatisfaction, as is well known. Free labour was employed, and for some weeks there

has been no great inconvenience among j shipping. 1

COALMINERS AND ENGINEERS. “The coalminers were steadier than usual in 1922. Unemployment and shortage of work undoubtedly had a sobering effect. On the West Coast particularly, and at other mines, short , time was worked owing to the absence of orders. An important factor in this connection was the large importations of coal by the Government. The State mine is believed to lie the seat of any industrial trouble that might- pussibly eventuate. Small . strikes were called periodically at this j , mine, hut did not cause any serious dislocation in the industry. “The engineering trade has also been passing through a slump period. As yet there is little sign of improvement. Much of the depression has been due to the loss of purchasing power by far- • mers, this reflecting ill the diminished output- of agricultural implements and machinery. The importation of Can- , adian and American stocks is also said to have contributed to the situation. With increased prices for primary products. however, the position of the pastoral and agricultural industries is] likely to improve. This should reflect I to the advantage of the engineering trade. TRADE UNIONISM. ‘Other matters of interest indus-1 triallv during 1922 was the freezing i works strike, and the institution of the ‘team’ system : the fire at the j Blackball coal mine, which resulted in ! over 200 men being thrown out of cm- i ployment. most- of whom were absorb- j ed hv other companies, and the Xgak- ] wau strike over the dismissal of rut engine-driver, lasting six weeks. Tn ' ibis instance the disputes committee justified the dismissal, and U.e men | resumed work. Another important | matter during the year was the forma- j Hon of the Grey District Federation, j as distinct from the New Zealand or- ; gauisation. In connection with trades' unionism, there was a good deal of dissatisfaction during the year concerning internal management. Several matters concerning defalcations by officials were ventilated before the courts. Then there was the application hv the new waterside union for registration, and litigation by members of the Wellington Union, with the consequent important pronouncement by Mr Justice Hosking.”