LXXVII

H.—ll.

WELLINGTON. Report op Conciliation Commissioner for the Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland Districts for the Year ending 31st March, 1912. Office of the Commissioner of Conciliation, Sm,— Wellington, 25th April, 1912. I have the honour to submit, for the Hon. the Minister's information, the following report in respect to the settlement of disputes dealt with in the above-mentioned industrial districts during the year ending 31st March, 1912. In the period under review 54 industrial matters received consideration. Of this number, 45 were fully settled; in 8 partial agreements were arranged; and in 1 the whole dispute was referred to the Court. The following is a list of the cases disposed of : — Merchant Service Guild, No. 1. Merchant Service Guild, No. 2. Wellington Engine-drivers. Wanganui Butchers. Masterton Engine-drivers. Wellington Tramways. Napier Engine-drivers. Wellington Electrical Workers. Palmerston North Engine-drivers. Wellington Woollen-mills. Wanganui Engine-drivers. Nelson Carpenters. Napier Carpenters. Wanganui Carpenters. Napier Trawlers. Palmerston North Carpenters. Wellington Furniture Trade. Masterton Carpenters. Napier Furniture Trade. Wellington Pullers. Palmerston North Furniture Trade. Greymouth Engine-drivers. Wanganui Furniture Trade. Wanganui Tramways. Wellington Slaughtermen (Abattoirs). Palmerston Tailoresses. Wellington Cooks and Stewards (Union Wanganui Tailoresses. Company). Wellington Tailoresses. Wellington Boilermakers. Blenheim Drivers. Napier Boilermakers. Napier Painters. Palmerston North Boilermakers. Napier Casing-makers. Wanganui Boilermakers. Wellington Building Labourers. Napier Drivers. Wellington Plumbers. Napier Carpenters. Wellington Plasterers. Wellington Shoeing and General Blacksmiths. Manawatu Flax-millers. Napier Gas Employees. . Westland Bakers and Pastrycooks. Wellington Bakers and Pastrycooks. Wellington Iron and Brass Moulders. Napier Hotel Employees. Wellington Meat-workers. Palmerston Hotel Employees. Wanganui Bookbinders and Paper-rulers. Wanganui Hotel Employees. Wellington Cooks and Stewards (Levin and New Plymouth Waterside Workers. Co.'s workers). In addition to the foregoing list of ordinary cases heard in accordance with the provisions of the Act, a number of other industrial disputes received my attention, all of which, with one exception (Typographical case), were adjusted to the satisfaction of the parties. The following is a list of the industries in this class :— 1 New Zealand Typographical Conference. Wellington Meat-workers' strike. Wellington Tramways strike. New Zealand Section Australasian Federated Manawatu Flax-mill Workers' dispute. Seamen Conference. In giving consideration to the amount of business dealt with by means of. conciliatory measures and the results obtained during the year, and especially when the nature of some of the disputes is not overlooked, it may be fairly assumed that this method of arranging industrial troubles must be satisfactory to all concerned, and in particular to those persons directly interested—viz., the employers and wage-earners. Notwithstanding the many long and arduous conferences held during the year, the feeling between employers and workers has, with one exception, been of a pleasant nature. The exception referred to had reference to the attendance of an agent during the hearing of a dispute before a Council of Conciliation, and in this connection, and in order to prevent future trouble of a similar character, I would respectfully suggest that the Act should be amended in the following direction : " That no person other than those who are substantially employed or engaged in the industry in dispute should be permitted to take part in any proceedings during the hearing of such disputes before a Council of Conciliation." Other matters which I would respectfully submit for your consideration in connection with the Act, w-ith a view to improving its efficiency, are as follows : — (1.) That the Court should have power to make awards for a longer period than three years (the present limit). (2.) That assessors on Conciliation Councils should be nominated from those persons who are eligible as at present, but who should reside within the district in which it is sought to make the award or agreement operate. (3.) That the fixing of a specific number of workers in an industry in order to obtain registration of a union should be abolished; and, in lieu thereof, " That the union should, prior to application for registration, have within its ranks a reasonable number of those persons working at the particular trade or industry —say, 33J per cent.—within the industrial district, with a minimum of fifteen members.