LABOUR REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1925, Page 4

LABOUR REPORT

WELLINGTON. Keptemlter 1. Despite a movement among some trade union against the arbitration system it is shown in the Lit hour Department's annual report that the Arbitration Court's awards cover a greater immher of workers than in the previous year. The tifilial number of awards in loree ■ 1 -S, showed a reduction of 71 on the previous war. hut the continued reduction in the number ot awards and agreements in force is accounted for by the fact that industrial associations ol unions have taken advantage ol the provisions in the I!)"2 Act enabling them to apply for awards (ovel'ing two or more industrial districts commonly called Dominion awards. Twenty-live such awards have been made, taking the place of a considerably larger number of district or local awards.

Ti e number of members ol workers unions lists increased during the year by -JUS I from ill, IdS to 91),d2d. showing that, while the number of awards and agreements in force is less, they neverthel ss cover a larger number of persons. 'I he increase in the number of re-t-omiiieudiUioMs of Coimrils ol Conciliation and awards of the Court oi Arbitration made during the year is accounted for h v the fact that following the expiration of the costs ol living legislation and resumption of normal methods of settling disputes unions and associations have filed a greater number of applications with a view to obtaining increases in the minimum rates of wages and other benefits. Of 171 disputes dealt with by ( (mediation Commissioners 1 Id, or -11.70 per cent., were settled without recourse to the Arbitration Court. ■ In view of the numbers of romp 1 bn: - and cunlln tin;.: opinions as j-. Cm ellicitcy o! ait ei hit ration -vstem for the scrth-meni ot industrial dm pates it may !»• worth while again noting." stales V e 1 nd"i--S.-cretary of Labour.- " that- tile Nov Zenit'nd Act ip

not truly compulsory. It does mu apply to worker-- in an industry unless 1 boy elec t i*. register under it. If they do mu -o elect l!v. y automatically come under Dm Labour Disputes Ittvestiga- ; -. :-. Act. which re(|itires a shert period, about three week-, io t-lapse for'investigation for a dispute and for a ballot to he taken by a Government official boom a strike or lock-out may take place. ()nlx three disputes oieorrod under this Act during the year, while there were 117 dealt with under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. This i' typical ol previous year'." The report notes that in several countries of Europe there have, in rerout years, been set up national bodies representing employers, workers ami the public generally. In Germany, for example, there is an Economic Council, and in Belgium the Supremo Labour Council, on which the Government, eiiiploycis and worker.-, have equal ivpros.on! alien.