H—4s

The cost of annual holidays for waterside workers has increased during 1949-50 not only because of the greater number of workers employed, but also through increases in the basic rate of pay (see Section 5, page 12). The following is a summary of costs for the last three financial years : Unionists. Non-unionists. Total. Year ended 31st March — £ £ £ 1948 .. .. .. 87,392 11,122 98,514 1949 .. .. .. 93,401 9,981 103,382 1950 .. .. .. 101,611 12,258 113,869 £282,404 £33,361 £315,765 (b) STATUTORY HOLIDAYS A comparison of annual costs of granting paid statutory holidays to waterside workers is difficult owing to the varying number of such holidays which fall within each financial year. The normal number for each calendar year is nine days. The year 1949-50 was a normal one, but 1948-49 included only six days, while in 1947-48 there was eleven paid holidays. The following is a summary of costs for the last three financial years Unionists. Non-unionists. Total. Year ended 31st March — £ £ £ 1948 (11 days) .. .. 80,722 6,530 ■ 87,252 1949 (6 days) .. .. 47,109 3,119 50,228 1950 (9 days) .. ..75,924 6,277 82,201 £203,755 £15,926 £219,681 9. CARGO CONTROL COMMITTEES (Appendix, page 99) The year ended 31st March, 1950, has been a difficult one for Cargo Control Committees, particularly at Auckland and Wellington. Shed congestion has been a constant problem, and would have led to greater hold-ups to shipping and the community generally but for the splendid work performed by the Cargo Control Committees and their officers. The value of having special Committees of this nature, which are representative of all interests concerned, was amply demonstrated during the emergency which arose at the Port of Auckland in March, 1950. On the recommendation of the Cargo Control Committee, the Government appointed a temporary full-time administrative officer to arrange and supervise the clearance of cargo from wharf sheds to merchants' stores or other off-wharf storage. As part of their duties, Cargo Control Committees are responsible for authorizing reimbursement from Government funds to carriers and merchants of the difference in cost of taking delivery of cargo in overtime hours; also for full cost of shifting cargo off the wharves to prevent congestion, if reasonable notice cannot be given to the owners of the goods. Expenditure brought to charge under these headings during 1949-50 amounted to £3,368, as compared with £3,579 in 1948-49. Miscellaneous expenditure (office costs and salaries of part-time or full-time secretaries) was £973 in 1949-50, as against £1,493 in 1948-49. 10. GOVERNMENT STORE, AUCKLAND (Appendix, page 99) A total of 58,110 tons of cargo was handled during the year ended 31st March, 1950, in the store operated by the Commission at Auckland. This was 9,428 tons more than for 1948-49. This store is primarily for Government goods such as wheat, tea, and other foodstuffs, which would otherwise have to be left in wharf sheds and so impede the

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