H.—ll

XVI

The awards and agreements actually in force as at the 31st March last total 373, and the following table shows the number operating in each industrial district : — Northern ... ... ... 88 Taranaki ... ... ... 7 Wellington ... ... ... 95 Marlborough ... 5 Canterbury... ... ... 87 Nelson ... ... ... 6 Otago and Southland ... 75 Westland ... ... ... 10 Cases taken by the Department for enforcement of aw r ards, &c, in the Arbitration Court total seventeen, as against five last year. Most of the cases were taken in the Magistrate's Court, a total of 540 cases being dealt with in that Court. The total number of cases taken by the Department in both Courts is 558, of which 512 were successful. Seven of the 46 dismissed were considered by the Stipendiary Magistrates as trivial and excusable, and were disposed of accordingly under section 16 of the Amendment Act, 1908. In four instances the cause of dismissal was owing to conflicting evidence, while the remaining cases, not being proved to the satisfaction of the Court, were also dismissed. Full reports of the dismissed cases are given in the official Book of Awards, Agreements, &c, made under the Act. In the Arbitration Court cases the Department was successful in twelve instances, whilst five were dismissed. In the Magistrate's Court 500 were successful and forty-one were dismissed. In regard to the number of cases dismissed it should be explained that in a considerable number of the cases taken there were debatable or technical questions involved; and they were therefore mostly in the nature of "test" cases. In fact, it might be said that the number of deliberate breaches is much fewer than formerly. The fines awarded to the Department in the Arbitration Court amounted to £30; in the Magistrate's Court, £912 12s. The fines in the cases taken by unions amounted to £15 6s. (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 (shown in Districts) for Enforcement of Awards, &c.

Distriot. Successful. Unsuccessful. Total. lorthern Wellington lanterbury )tago and Southland 10 1 1 2 2 1 12 3 1 1 Total cases taken by Department 12 17 Fines Fines :;}0 Magistrate's Court. j ) District. Successful. Unsuccessful District. Total. Gases taken by Department for Enforcement of Awards. Northern .. .. .. .. .. .. ..198 17 Wellington 82 14 Marlborough .. .. .. . . .. .. ] 1 Westland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 96 2 Otago and Southland .. .. .. .. .. 26 6 215 96 1 2 98 32 : ; Total cases taken by Department .. .. .. 403 41* 41* 444f 444f Gases taken by Unions. Northern .. .. .. .... .. .. 11 4 Wellington .. .. ..... .. .. 1 4 11 1 1 4 15 5 15 5 Total cases taken by unions.... .. .. 12 8$ 12 8J 20§ 20§ Grand totals .. .. .. .. .. 415 49 415 49 464 464 Fines — £ s. 507 16 d. 0 Departmental cases Union cases 15 6 0 * In two cases the Department appealed to the Court of Arbitration, which upheld the appeal in both instances. ■ In four instances cases were referred to the Court of Arbitration for opinion, which held in two cases that breaches lad been oommitted. J In two instances cases were referred to the Court of Arbitration for opinion, which held in me oase that a breaoh had been committed. § One decision was appealed against, the Court dismissing the appeal.