H.—li

42

Councils; in ten cases partial settlements were arrived at; in two instances the whole dispute was referred to the Court for adjustment; and in nine disputes the parties succeeded in arranging terms of settlement without reference to a Council of Conciliation. Notwithstanding the fact that many of the unions working under awards and industrial agreements in the districts of Wellington, Marlborough, and Westland were strongly" urged to participate in the late strike, it is satisfactory to report that out of 113 registered unions operating in the districts only three became involved in the trouble. I would again respectfully suggest that, with a view of facilitating the settlement of Dominion disputes, machinery should be provided in the Act for the setting-up of Conciliation Councils having jurisdiction over more than one industrial district; also that the parties in different districts or localities may have adequate representation, and the opportunity of meeting in one centre, to arrange the dispute, instead of, as at present, having to meet at various centres and with different assessors for each district; further, that the Court should have power under certain conditions to extend the present limit of the term of awards to five years. List of Disputes. Napier Fishermen (s.s. " Beatrice "). Paparoa Coal-miners. Wellington Slaughtermen (old union). Blackball Coal-miners. Wellington General Labourers. State Coal-miners. Wellington Saddlers. Wellington Tally Clerks. Palmerston North Saddlers. Merchant Service Guild (Masters). Wanganui Saddlers. Merchant Service Guild (Mates). Napier Fishermen (s.s. " Nora Niven " and Wellington Dairy Employees. " Countess "). Wellington Shipwrights. Napier Saddlers. Wellington Tramways. Wellington Marine Engineers (No. 2). Palmerston North Painters. Westland Furniture Trade. Wellington Stage Employees. Wellington Hotel Employees. Westland Engine-drivers. New Plymouth Furniture Trade. Puponga Miners. Inangahua Miners. Palmerston North Carpenters. Wanganui Painters. Wellington Power-house Employees. Wellington Painters. Wellington Pullers. Wellington Hairdressers. Wanganui Gas Employees. Nelson Furniture Trade. Westport Labourers. Wellington Coachbuilders. Marlborough Slaughtermen. Wanganui Coachbuilders. Napier Gas Employees. Palmerston North Coachbuilders. Pakipaki Slaughtermen. Napier Coachbuilders. Wellington Fire Brigade. Masterton Coachbuilders. Longburn Slaughtermen. Wellington Carpenters. Wanganui Slaughtermen. Wairarapa Butchers. Napier Trawlers (s.s. " Energy "). Wellington Jewellers. Wellington Sausage-casing Makers. Wellington Iron-workers' Assistants. Wakatu Sausage-casing Makers. Wellington Boilermakers. Masterton Slaughtermen. I have, &c, P. Hally, The Secretary of Labour, Wellington. Conciliation Commissioner,

•f Canterbury and Otago and Southland Industrial Districts. Sir, — Conciliation Commissioner's Office, Christchurch, 27th April, 1914. I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Right Hon. the Minister, the following report on the conciliation provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in the above districts during the year. During the period mentioned sixty-four industrial matters have been dealt with by Conciliation Councils; thirty-six full settlements were arrived at; ten settlements were partially made; and in eighteen instances no settlements were made; in an additional six instances industrial agreements were arrived at without the appointment of assessors : total, seventy. List of Disputes. Canterbury Biscuit-bakers and Confee- Dunedin General Carriers and Coal-mer-tioners. chants' Labourers. Dunedin and Suburban Farriers. Otago Metal-workers' Assistants. Invercargill Fellmongers and Tanners. Christchurch Operative Bootmakers. Southland and Otago Cheese - factory Canterbury Printers' Machinists and BookManagers, binders.