H.—ll

Variations under the Economic Stabilization Regulations are classified thus : — * Adjustment of anomalies. t Permissible increases up to £5 ss. per week males, £3 females. J Dispute filed before 15th December, 1942. The other variations mentioned are in accordance with the Essential Building Works Labour Legislation Modification Order 1943. The order applies mainly to defence works, hospitals, and State houses, but may be extended to other work by order of the Minister of Works. The main effect is to extend the normal hours of work in the industries covered to forty-eight per week, payable at the increased rates mentioned in the table. Pursuant to the Economic Stabilization. Emergency Regulations 1942 (Serial number 1942/335), the Court of Arbitration is to issue a general order increasing or reducing rates of remuneration whenever there is an increase or reduction of not less than 5 per cent. (2|-per-cent. increase for first order) in the general level of prices included in the wartime price index. The wartime price index is of the prices of such commodities and services, including rents, as the Minister of Industries and Commerce directs, the basic level of prices to be that indicated by the index as at 15th December, 1942. Index figures as follows have been published : 15th December, 1942, 1,000 ; 15th March, 1943, 1,011 ; 15th June, 1943, 1,000; 15th September, 1943, 996 ; 15th December, 1943, 1,001 ; 15th March, 1944, 1,005. Inspection, Etc. During the year, 5,112 complaints of alleged breaches of the Act and of awards and industrial agreements, &c., were received, but it was found on investigation that in 1,384 cases no breach had been committed. In 156 cases proceedings were taken, and in 2,068 warnings were given. No action was considered necessary in the remaining cases. Apart from the complaints mentioned above, a large proportion of the inspections of factories, shops, &c., included an inspection to ascertain whether the awards and agreements were being complied with in respect of wages, overtime, &c., and as a result of these inspections 18 prosecutions were taken, and warnings were given in 1,309 other cases. Of the 174 prosecutions, 159 were against employers and 15 against workers ; 117 convictions were recorded, 102 against employers and 15 against workers. Total penalties, £230 14s. Registration of Industrial Associations and Unions The usual statutory return (to 31st December, 1943) giving a list of associations and unions on the register at that date, together with the membership thereof, is appended hereto. Employers' unions number 272, the same as last year, with a total membership of 14,782, compared with 13,042 last year. Workers' unions number 399, compared with 416 last year, with a total membership of 214,628, as against 218,398 last year. Industrial Disturbances during the Year There were 108 industrial stoppages during the year, compared with 43 in 1942-43. These disturbances involved lost time equivalent to 41,299 working-days, compared with 26,123 working-days

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T j i Variation of Kate since Industry. Bate. Weekly Hours. 1Bth Decemberj 19 4 2 . Plasterers .. .. .. 2s. I0£d. per hour .. .. 40 „ .. .. 3s. 4d. per hour .. .. 48 Essential Building Works Labour Legislation Modification Order 1943. Plumbers .. .. .. 2s. 9|d. per hour .. .. 40 .. .. 3s. 3d. per hour .. .. 48 Essential Building Works Labour Legislation Modification Order 1943. Printers' machinists, &c. .. £4 10s. to £5 7s. 6d. per week of 40 hours Rubber-workers — Male .. .. £4 10s. to £6 per week .. 40 Female .. .. .. £2 15s. per week .. .. 40 Shop-assistants — Male .. .. .. £5 10s. per week .. .. 44 Female .. .. £3 7s. Od. per week .. .. 44 Storemen and packers—• • Wholesale .. .. .. £4 17s. (id. per week .. 40 Oil-stores .. .. .. £4 19s. 2d. per week .. 40 Increase 2s. (id. per week.t Wool, grain, &c., stores .. £4 15s. per week . . .. 40 Fruit and produce .. .. £4 17s. 6d. per week .. 40 Increase 2s. 6d. per week.* Timber-yards and sawmills' em- 2s. 4£d. to 3s. per hour .. 40 ployees „ 2s. lOd. per hour, small saw; 48 Essential Building Works 3s. Id. per hour, machinist Labour Legislation Modification Order 1943. Tobacco-workers — Male .. •. .. £5 5s, per week .. .. 40 Increase Is. per week.f Female .. .. .. £2 I2s. 6d. per week .. 40 Tramway employees — Motormen (after first year) .. §2s. 9-575d. per hour .. 40 Conductors (after first year) .. §2s. 0-95d. per hour .. .. 40 Conductors (after fifth year) .. §2s. 7-475d. per hour 40 Motor-bus drivers .. . . §2s. 9'575d. per hour .. 40 Typographers .. .. £4 5s. to £5 15s. per week of 40 hours Warehouse employees— Male . . .. • • £5 5s. per week .. .. 42 Female .. .. .. £3 2s. 6d. per week .. .. 42 Woollen-mills' employees — Male .. • • • • 2s. 4d. to 2s. 9d. per hour .. 40 Female .. 1J . ■ Is. 3jd. per hour 40 -j