H—ll

A much better comparison is given in the following table. This shows the number of days lost in each year in mining, industry, and transport per 1,000 persons gainfully employed in those occupations. It thus measures the extent of disturbances in the employments most subject to strikes in a manner which makes allowance for the differences in size and number of workers of different countries :

Days lost per 1,000 Persons in Mining, Industry, and Transport

New Zealand does not show the lowest rates of days lost in every year over the six-year period, but is far from showing the highest. In 1938 and 1939 Canada and Great Britain had lower rates. In 1940 and 1941 Great Britain alone had a lower rate than New Zealand. In 1942 the rate was lower in Great Britain and the United States. In 1943 New Zealand had a lower rate than any of the other four countries. This is an excellent record. Figures for later years will be awaited with interest. Details of the compilation of these statistics will be found in the Year-Book of Labour Statistics, 1943-44, page 242. (6) Minimum Wage-rates fixed by Awards and Industrial Agreements There has been no alteration in the standard minima for adult male workers specified by the Court of Arbitration in a pronouncement dated 17th March, 1945—namely, skilled, 3s. per hour ; semi-skilled, 2s. B|d. to 2s. lid. per hour; and unskilled, 2s. 7|d. per hour. Table VIII gives the minima for a number of the principal industries. Where there is no Dominion award or agreement in operation Wellington rates have been taken, unless otherwise indicated. (7) Amendment to the Act It had been an accepted principle of Conciliation and Arbitration procedure that any applicant to have a dispute heard before a Council or the Court was entitled to withdraw or amend claims at any stage, until, as a result of a decision of the Supreme Court in the Wellington Foremen Stevedores' case (43 Awards 877) such amendments and withdrawals were no longer in order. The Statutes Amendment Act, 1946, which was assented to on 12th October, 1946, removes this disability and allows for amendment or withdrawal of claims at any stage of proceedings. In addition, an amendment to the Economic Stabilization Emergency Regulations, of 12th March, 1947, empowers the Court of Arbitration to amend awards and industrial agreements (for the purpose of preserving relationships with the rates of remuneration of other workers) which are in force at the date of any pronouncement specifying standard rates of wages for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers. This power of amendment applied previously only to any award or agreement which had " come into force not later than the 18th day of July, 1945." In addition, at the time of making any standard rate pronouncement under Regulation 39 (b) the Court is empowered to amend awards and agreements having regard to any increases in rates granted by the Court since 17th March, 1945. SECTION 6.—LABOUR DISPUTES INVESTIGATION ACT, 1913 (1) Agreements During the year fourteen agreements were filed under this Act. On 31st March, 1947, fifteen such agreements were in force. This represents a considerable increase over last year's figure of seven.

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Year. New Zealand. Australia. Canada. Great Britain. United States. 1938 164 1,351 95 136 457 1939 237 445 167 132 957 1940 118 1,482 188 88 330 1941 108 897 294 97 1,096 1942 214 335 296 138 170 1943 63 865 677 162 478