H—ll

Section 4—lndustrial Relations (a) The Court of Arbitration The work of the Court in making awards and approving (for economic stabilization purposes) of industrial agreements is indicated by the following table :

On the 31st March, 1949, there were 615 awards and industrial agreements in force. This figure is an increase of 40 over the total of 575 at 31st March, 1948. ■(b) Conciliation Commissioners The work performed by the three Conciliation Commissioners during the year is indicated below, together with a comparison of the work performed by them in the previous year: — 1947-48. 1948-49. Disputes where complete agreement reached 89 131 Disputes where substantial agreement reached 4 12 Disputes where partial agreement reached .. 36 49 Disputes where no agreement reached .. 1 2 Disputes where sittings were not complete or had been adjourned .. .. .. 12 22 Disputes where claims were withdrawn .. 3 14 Meetings of disputes committees set up under provisions of awards .. .. .. 45 24 Other conferences, &c. .. .. .. 16 22 On the 22nd December, 1948, an additional Conciliation Commissioner was appointed, but about that time the Commissioner who had been located in Wellington was prevented, by an illness which subsequently resulted in his death, from carrying on his duties. s(c) Registration of Industrial Associations and Unions The return required by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act showing the number of affiliated unions in each industrial association and the number of members in each industrial union as at 31st December, 1948, is appended (see Appendix III). The following figures summarize this return :

39

Year ended 31st March, 1948. 1949. Awards made 163 167 Industrial agreements approved 70 55* Amendments to existing awards or industrial agreements 472* 17 Apprenticeship orders made 15 Amendments to existing apprenticeship orders 4 7 Miscellaneous (interpretations, enforcements, &c.) 52 119 ♦The Court during this period amended awards and industrial agreements in line Pronouncement dated 15th August, 1947, and recorded in 47 Book of Awards 1345. with the Standard Wage

— 31st December, 1947. 31st December;, 1948. Number. Membership. If umber. Membership. Employers' associations 21 148 22 150 Employers' unions 278 16,922 277 17,811 Workers' associations 35 185 35 186 Workers' unions .. .. 373 260,379 374 271,100