H.—ll

7

an award providing for such matters was in force at the time, this was agreed to by the owners ; but in the meantime a ballot was taken at each mine to decide upon one of two issues—namely, whether the men should strike, or whether they should "go slow " —and the latter issue was carried. The conference that had already been arranged for was duly held, but no agreement was reached, and the men thereupon commenced to "go slow." As the output continued to decrease, the owners on the 15th September closed the mines affected. After a number of conferences between the representatives of the owners and the workers an agreement was finally reached concerning the matters in dispute, and was subsequently ratified by the parties, and an amendment of the award was made accordingly. The whole disturbance occupied 133 days. Prosecutions were commenced, but in view of the settlement it was decided not to proceed with them. (6.) Coal-mining, Roa. —Eighty-eight employees at the Roa Coal-mine discontinued their employment for fourteen days as the result of a dispute with the mine-owners over the manning of certain "isolated" places in the mine. The men accepted the decision of the Disputes Committee in the matter, and resumed work under the old conditions. No action was taken on this occasion, as proceedings were already pending against the union for a previous stoppage in connection with the same question, in which a penalty was imposed. (7.) Waterside Workers, Lyltellon. —The waterside workers at Lyttelton ceased work for the purpose of holding a picnic on a day other than that provided for in the award : 327 workers were involved. Proceedings were taken against the union under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and a fine was imposed. (8.) Freezing-workers, Belfast. —Forty-one employees at the Belfast Freezing-works ceased work at 3 p.m. on the day prior to their picnic without giving the company sufficient notice to enable it to make the necessary arrangements to carry on the work. Proceedings were taken against the men, and fines were imposed. (9.) Waterside Workers, New Plymouth.--A number of waterside workers at New Plymouth refused to resume work at 1 p.m. after work had been discontinued on account of rain. Proceedings were taken against the workers, and fines were imposed. Union Accounts. Under the provision made in the 1922 amendment of the Act it was found necessary to make an investigation of the accounts kept by the secretary of several unions in Christchurch, with the result that the information gathered was handed over to the police officers. Proceedings were taken by them for theft, making false declarations, &c, for which the defendant received sentence. This was the first case of the kind. In order to enable or assist unions and their officers generally to establish satisfactory methods of book-keeping, a draft procedure has been drawn up and submitted to the union of workers and to the employers for their consideration.

DISPUTES DEALT WITH UNDER THE LABOUR DISPUTES INVESTIGATION ACT.

This Act permits of strikes and lockouts taking place provided there is no award or industrial agreement in force under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and provided that three weeks have been allowed for an investigation and for a ballot on the question at issue. As stated at page 5, only twenty-three unions have had their disputes dealt with under the Act since its inception in 1913, while there are 415 individual unions of workers registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, with 551 awards and industrial agreements in force. It will be noticed that all

Whether Union had been registered under ., ,, , , Industry affected. the Industrial Particulars. w,';?.„° Conciliation and w oncers. Arbitration Act prior to Dispute. Nature of Settlement. Gas Company's clerical Registered*.. Agreement reached without recourse Not required and showroom em- to conference called by Conciliation ployees, Auckland Commissioner or to Labour Disputes Committee Agreement filed pursuant to section 8 (1) of Labour Disputes Investigation Act. Ditto. Gasworks, Auckland .. Not. registered Conference called by Conciliation ,, Commissioner proving abortive, Labour Disputes Committee constituted ; settlement resulted Tramways, Auckland .. Registered*.. Agreement reached without recourse „ to conference called by Conciliation Commissioner or to Labour Disputes Committee Tramway officers, Auck- Not registered Conference called by Conciliation „ land Commissioner ; settlement resulted Tramways, Dunedin .. Not registered f Ditto. .. .. .. ,, Laundry Employees, Not registered Conference called by Conciliation ,, Auckland Commissioner proving abortive, Labour Disputes Committee constituted ; settlement resulted Glassworkers, Auckland „ Ditto. . . .. .. „ Gaslighting employees, ,, Agreement reached without recourse ,, Petone and Lower to conference called by ConeiliaHutt tion Commissioner or to Labour Disputes Committee * In each of these cases the union remained registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitratt by an award or agreement, thereunder. f This union previously cancelled its registration under the ! Arbitration Act. cs the union retnai rounder. in Act, but was not bound industrial Conciliation and