Arbitration and Strikes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 43, 5 January 1912, Page 18

Arbitration and Strikes.

THE FAILURE OF CONCILIATION

In conucetion with tho strike epidemic that has spread itself over Now Zealand, some interesting details are available in an advance sheet of the New Zealand Year Hook (says the "Thames Star")- This covers the period from the passing of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act of 1894 to March 31 of tho present year. For tho first 11 years (until 1906) there was not a single strike, in New Zealand. During that period equity appears to have beeii in favor of the workman, in the opinion of those entrusted with making awards, and almost every apl«.'al resulted in more wages and easier terms of service being awarded. The limit of equity appears to havo been reaohf-fl in some industries at that date; tho workmen's demands were not conceded, and strikes were thereupon resorted to. The- position may be accurately gauged by a perusal of the following v details, 'which are. taken from the- official source above referred to :- Number of strikes coining within the scope of the Act, 20. Number of strikes outside the Act. 22. Total i. :-nber of strikes, 42. Number of disputes included in total which may be classed as trivial or unimportant, 20. Men fully successful in 13. Employers swoilKsful in 6. Compromise effected in 23. Avrra<j;o duration of all strikes (tri- \ i:-! ca:--es not included). 10 days. Tola] number of strikers (trivial cay..'« not included), 15(m. Tel 'I !Hi!i:b-T of men rendered idle. I ••■ .--/ ikes (liivi:;l easrs not included). J>."o. \) -,nivii"■■'■ ■ '■■•-■■ in wa ,r <-s to work- ,;., i. (<..i;< ,■:■;-.;.-'! (.■■,-raj;e ,t7), £19,023. Aj-j.-rcNii , ...' ;■ iu.ss U) employers con-' ecriM-.1. .Chi,''" ■. Truly I';-;-:.' ,;,e significant figures ,-■•:(; if'{'tie i:.': ■<■■■" of I.lh- present year •\.M in!-!,n!v..| :' ,v would be still more j ;;■:,:)■! .!.!(;. Vμ r-ci'iit stn'ik<-s or lidlds up. llm;,. .. i; >.j,o;a'y, must have <■(,:■ l I'.i'.ii \\o;-k< i-■ ;:i,d emjiloyers a subs!aiili;il amouiit. and the pity of it is i'-,;i! ;!;/';■.- '!,:-. i:..i a])|)iar to bo any bkeiihcod of th , condition of industrial ;■, ii'air:; iipjii-.i'.-i;,;.: ill the future. The 1,.< I iliat so rah} unions have cancelled

ilni: , rci/ii-l'.-.vtin'!! uiuirr tiu> Arbitraticn Act ]!!■! .-utiuibl.v to be imtramelli'il by am - ::■■ h <.b! ; .;/jiti<iis aiifl to be Iμ'.' to sl!'ii-<- i! be —is nioj'O 11>.in si:'i]i:;.-:-!i;. nml we sincoicly !■(•>,. itt';T' tl.i- ii,!i.o;t!v for'bndinps wll i'n'l- ii- n'alisril." The pn-srut psition | 1(;f ,,.v.r. is (I-i'cidrill.y unsatisfactory, lor there is no k.iowinj: whoii tlie lid oi tho volcauo will blow off!