H—ll

Waterfront Industry Commission on the guaranteed minimum weekly wage, attendancemoney, and certain other conditions of employment. In view of the continued refusal of overtime, the Government, on the 6th January, suspended the powers and authorities, of the Waterfront Commission with the exception of two orders governing labour engagement bureaux and central pay offices. The National Council of the Waterside Workers' Union instructed all its branches to resume normal work on and from the 20th January. The suspension was rescinded when normal work recommenced, and the matters in dispute were referred to the Commission for further consideration. The Commission met to consider these matters, but was unable to agree even upon a basis of discussion of the dispute, and the Chairman, with the consent of the members, reported that the Commission was unable to deal with the dispute. He subsequently tendered his resignation, which was. accepted with much regret. The appointments of the other members were then cancelled. After consultation, the Government and the union came to an agreement upon matters pertaining to daily and weekly minimum payments, Saturday engagements, accommodation and amenities, and annual and statutory holidays. (5) International Comparisons The figures below have been extracted from the Year-Book of Labour Statistics of the International Labour Office and official publications of other countries. They show a comparison of industrial disputes in five countries. Information which is internationally comparable is difficult of access, and there is necessarily considerable delay in compiling it. The statistics indicate that New Zealand is by no means the worst sufferer from strikes and lockouts. In actual numbers of strikes, workers involved,, and working-days lost we have lower figures than any of the other four countries :

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New Zealand. Australia * Canada. Year. C3 <8 it >g ST §3 2 <D o £ •3 n § £ 1 ° S lb §■ -3 § s 1 £ tM 03 o ll 05 •§ .1^ B-sI >> >§ C3 CJ § « I <3 J IS a-2 go ||| >> l*§ •3 § 3 1 IM 19S8 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 72 66 57 89 65 69 149 154 97 11 16 10 15 14 11 30 39 16 35 54 28 26 51 15 53 67 30 376 416 350 567 602 785 941 945 144 153 193 248 169 296 261 327 1,338 459 1,507 984 378 990 913 2,120 142 120 166 229 352 401 195 197 228 20 41 61 87 114 218 75 96 139 149 225 266 434 450 1,041 490 1,457 4,516 Great Britain. United States. Year. cm go SI tZi ■§ ££ § So 2 sM * Co rt ? » .a o MS £ <M CO It I 5 111 'O T3 o3 60 8 a § sib £ 1938 .. 1939 .. 1940 .. 1941 .. 1942 .. 1943 .. 1944 .. 1945 .. 1946 .. 875 940 922 1,251 1,303 1,785 2,194 2,293 2,191 274 337 299 360 457 557 821 531 525 1,330 1,360 940 1,080 1,530 1,810 3,710 2,840 2,160 2,772 2,613 2,508 4,288 2,968 3,752 4,956 4,750 4,700* 688 1,171 577 2,363 840 1,981 2,116 3,467 4,650* 9,148 17,812 6,701 23,048 4,183 - 13,501 8,880 38,025 113,000* * Preliminary figures only.