H.—ll

XIII

Cases taken by the Department for enforcement of awards, &c. in the Arbitration Court total 5, as against 35 last year. Most of the cases are now taken, in accordance with the Amendment Act passed in 1908. before the Magistrate's Court, a total of 651 cases being dealt with in that Court. The, total number of cases taken by tin' Department in both Courts is 656, of which 534 were won. and 122 dismissed. Of the 74 cases of enforcements of awards dismissed during the year, 15 were considered by the Stipendiary Magistrates as trivial and excusable, and were disposed of accordingly under section 16 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1908. In 16 instances tin-cause of dismissal was owing to conflicting evidence, while the remaining cases, not being proved to the satisfaction of the Court, were also dismissed. Of the 54 cases for breaches of the Act, 50 were against wharf labourers for a strike at Welling ton. This was taken as one case. and. as previously stated in this report, the Department was lion suited. Of the remainder. :! were dismissed owing to conflicting evidence, while one against an alleged employer for failing to keep a wages and overtime book was dismissed on the ground that the apprentice was a contractor and not a worker. Full reports of those dismissed cases are given in the Official Book of Awards. Agreements, kc., made onder the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. In the Arbitration Court cases the Department was successful in 3 instances, whilst 2 were dismissed. In the Magistrate's Court 531 were won and 120 dismissed. The fines awarded to the Department in the Arbitration Court amounted to £2; in the Magistrate's Court. £682 17s. 6d. The fines in the. cases taken by unions amounted to £19 16s. (in the Magistrate's Court). The following is a table showing in detail the cases taken under the Act during the period:—

Cases taken by Department for Enforcements of Awards, &c.

Magistrate's Court.

Fines— £ *. &. Departmental cases .. .. .. .. .. .. 528 lt> (i Union cases .. .. .. . . . . .. 19 1 (i (I

District. Won. Dismissed. Withdrawn. TotoL : l_ Northern .. .. .. .. .. 1 Weetland .. .. .. .. .. 1 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 1 Otago and Southland .. .. .. 1 1 .. 2 1 1 .. 1 Total oases taken by Department .. .. 3 2 .. 5 I \ Fines ..£2 0 0

District. Won. Dismissal. Withdrawn. Total. Cuses taken by Department for Enforcements of Award8. Northern .. .. .. ... .. 93 32 .. 125 Wellington .. .. •• .. .. [ 212 L9 .. l>31 Westland .. .. ■• .. .. 1 1 •• 2 Canterbury .. .. .. .. ..I 100 10* .. [10 Otago and Southland .. • • 17 4 .. 51 Total cases taken by Department .. .. 453f 66} .. 519 ( Vr.sn* taken ft// Unions, Northern . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . 5 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. 4 5 .. 9 Canterbury .. • ■ • • • • • • 5 .. .. 5 Otago and Southland .. .. .. '.. .. 1 .. I Total cases taken by unions .. .. 14 6 .. 2o LI 6 20 Grand totals .. .. .. ..467 72 .. 539 72 I I 539 i i t _ i__ * In 1 case appeal is pending. jln 7 instances cases were referred to the Court of Arbitration. * In 4 oasea ilic Department appealed to the Court of Arbitration, which uphold the appeal in I! instances and dismissed the other.