H—4s

5. RATES OF PAY : AVERAGE WAGE The following returns published in the Appendix show data relating to total and average earnings of union waterside workers for the year ended 31st March, 1949 : (a) Return of Number of Unionists Employed, Wages, &c., paid, and Average Wage per man-week worked for period 1940-48, Year 1948-49, and Period 1940-49 (Appendix, page 68). (b) Return Showing Earnings of Union Waterside Workers for Year Ended 31st March, 1949, Analysed Under Income Groups (Appendix, page 69). (c) Return Showing Average Total Earnings, Profit Distributions, -fee., for Unionists with Highest Earnings for Year Ended 31st March, 1949. (Appendix, page 70). Changes in rates of pay and conditions which have affected the averages shown in these returns for 1948-49 as compared with 1947-48 are—(i) Basic hourly rate of pay increased by 2|d. per hour from 3s. Bd. to 3s. 10|d* per hour as from 14th February, 1949. This was an interim decision of the Waterfront Industry Authority on the union's application for an increase in the basic rate of pay by Is. per hour. Further consideration of the application was deferred until a decision was given on applications made to the Arbitration Court for standard wage pronouncements, or until 28th March, 1949, if a decision on those applications had not then been given. As no decision had been issued by the Arbitration Court by that date, on 29th March, 1949, the Waterfront Industry Authority issued a further decision which refused any additional increase in the interim rate awarded, but stated that if the standard wage pronouncements of the Arbitration Court provided for a greater increase than 2|d. per hour in the standard rates of pay which operated from Ist October, 1947, then there would be a prima facie case for a further increase to be granted to waterside workers. The union representatives on the Authority dissented from both of these decisions (ii) The increase from Ist October, 1947, in the basic rate of pay from 3s. Ifd. plus 4d. per hour flat-rate cost-of-living bonus to 3s. Bd. per hour (inclusive of cost-of-living bonus) operated for the whole of 1948-49 as compared with only six months in 1947-48. (iii) The extra hourly rates for handling special cargoes were revised and increased as from 7th March, 1949. No general increase had been made in these rates for over ten years, although during that period the general cargo rate of pay had been increased from time to time. The revised special cargo rates restored the relative position which existed in 1940 between the rates for handling general cargo and the rates for handling freezer and other special cargoes. The majority of the increases, including those on freezer, coal, cement, and similar commonly handled special cargoes, are 2d. per hour. Many others are Id. per hour, while it was also found necessary to completely reclassify some special cargoes in the light of experience gained since the last classification was made. The new rates now awarded had in a number of cases already been paid for some time past, either by agreement between employers and workers or by decision of Port Committees. From Return (a) it will be noted that the average wage per man-week worked at main and secondary ports for 1948-49 was £ll Is. 2d., which is 4s. Bd. per'week greater than the average for 1947-48. Provided there is no marked drop in the average hours worked per week, it can be anticipated that this average will show a further increase, in 1949-50, when the full effect of the changes in wage-rates set out above will" be reflected. Since 1947-48, which was the first full year of operation of guaranteed pay, all men who regularly sought work on the waterfront have received some earnings each week of the year. From 1947-48 onwards, therefore, the average wages per man-week worked

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