H.—ll.

Act, may petition the Minister to prohibit after those closing-hours the sale of their goods by other shopkeepers carrying on that trade as a side-line of their businesses. A considerable number of orders have been gazetted in response to these petitions. These are, however, now subject to exemption on application to local Magistrates on the lines above indicated. In the case of tobacconists the amendment makes an additional provision on account of the great difficulty experienced in detecting illicit sales by fruiterers and others selling tobacconists' requisites after the hours at which tobacconists' shops are closed by " requisition"; the amendment therefore provides that if the closing-hours of tobacconists' shops have been determined in any district by twothirds of their number, then all other shopkeepers selling tobacconists' requisites shall be required to close at the tobacconists' hours. This provision is also, however, subject to the right to apply to a Magistrate, who may grant exemption in the manner above prescribed. INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. Work done under the Act during the Year, 1927-28. Industrial agreements filed . . .. .. . . .. 15 Recommendations of Councils of Conciliation .. . . .. 90 Awards of the Court of Arbitration .. .. .. . . 69 The awards and industrial agreements actually in force on the 31st March, 1928, total 472 (last year, 476). The reason for this reduction is merely that in one instance an award has taken the place of the several previous separate awards and agreements in the same industry. Work performed by Commissioners and Councils of Conciliation. Industrial agreements arrived at and filed as such under section 28 by parties through the Commissioner alone . . . . . . .. 5 Disputes dealt with by Conciliation Councils — Where recommendations were fully accepted and filed as such . . .. 1 Where recommendations were fully accepted and forwarded to the Court to be made into awards.. . . . . .. .. .. 56 Where recommendations were substantially accepted or agreements reached and referred to the Court to make awards .. . . .. 23 Where only minor recommendation or no recommendation was made .. 9 Total . . .. . . . . .. . . 94 The above figures would indicate that 90'4 per cent, of the disputes dealt with by the Commissioners and Conciliation Councils were settled or substantially settled by them ; but it should be noted that in some cases the settlements reached merely followed upon recently-made awards of the Court, or settlements through Commissioners or Councils in the same or similar industries elsewhere. The nine disputes in which only minor recommendations or no recommendations were made were confined to three industries —viz., sawmilling (7), theatrical work, and driving —while the 85 disputes which were settled or substantially settled covered 45 industries. Wages generally paid. In the following trades the award rates for adult workers (other than foremen and leading hands) are generally exceeded in the four chief centres to the extent shown : —

While for a number of years the rates generally paid frequently exceeded the award rates, the wages now being paid tend to fall towards the award rates. Registration of Industrial Associations and Unions. The usual statutory return (to the 31st December, 1927) of the associations and unions registered under the Act, with their membership at that date, is published herewith as an appendix. Comparison with the previous year shows that the total number of workers' unions has increased by three (from 407 to 410), and the total membership by 1,404 (from 99,667 to 101,071). One large union—viz., the

6

Industry. , Award Rates. [ Rates generally paid. Per Week. Per Week. Bakers and pastrycooks .. £5 ,. .. £5 to £5 10s. Per Hour. Per Hour. Bootmakers .. . . 2s. OJd. . . .. 2s. ljd. Carpenters and joiners .. 2s. 3d. and 2s. 3fd. . . North Island, 2s. 6d. ; South Island, 2s. 4d. Bricklayers .. .. 2s. 3Jd. and 2s. 4d. .. 2s. 9d. Plasterers .. .. 2s. 3Jd. and 2s. 4|d. .. 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. Plumbers .. .. 2s. 3d. .. .. 2s. 6d. Furniture trades .. .. 2s. 3d. .. .. 2s. 4|d. Waterside workers .. 2s. 2£d. .. . . 2s. 4d.