LABOUR DISPUTES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 13

LABOUR DISPUTES

56 Stoppages Of Work Last Year WAGE LOSS £28,000

According to the latest Abstract of Statistics, 56 industrial disputes involving a stoppage of work took place in New Zealand during 1940. This is 10 fewer than in 1939, but is above the average for the last 16 years and the fifth highest number during that period. The number of workers involved (10,399) was the fourth highest during that period. The approximate loss in wages, however, was below the average.

The loss of wages to the workers was £28,062. It is pointed out by the Gov-

ernment Statistician that these losses are for the actual period of the dis-

putes, no allowance being made for the fact that the work not performed at tie time may have been carried out subsequently, either wholly or in part. The greatest number of disputes (If) occurred in shipping and cargo working. The number of workers concerned was 3145. Thirty-five firms were affected and the loss in wages was £7031. The coal mine industry, however, was probably the most seriously involved, though the number of disputes (14) was fewer. Seventeen companies were concerned and 3444 workers were involved. The approximate loss in wages was £13,335. In 1939 the coal-mining industry headed the disputes with 29, 5072 workers being affected and the loss in wages totalled £25,596.

Statistics for other major industries show that in meat-freezing works there were 12 stoppages involving 1469 workers, the loss in wages being £1063. In gold mining there were five disputes involving 630 men, and the wages lost totalled £4358. Since 1925 the number of disputes and the workers involved have been:

The estimated loss in wages during those periods wars:

1 925, S3 and 9905; 192G, 59 and G2G4; 1927, 38 and 447G ; 1928, 39 and 925S; 1929, -17 and 7151; 1930, 38 and 54G7; 1931, 24 and G35G; 1932, 23 and 9355; 1933, 15 and 3558; 1934, 24 and 3773; 1935, 12 and 2323; 1930, 43 and 7354; 1937, 52 and 11,411; 193S, 72 and 11,38S; 1939, CG and 1G.0S2 ; 1910, 5G and 10,399.

1925 .... .... 49.149 1926 .... .... 32,355 1927 .... .... 11.S19 1928 .... .... 22.304 1929 .... .... 26.940 1930 .... .... 37,299 1931 .... .... 44,544 1932 .... .... 105,715 1933 .... .... 59,334 193-1 .... .... 7,121 1935 .... .... 15,266 1936 .... .... 12,8S6 1937 .... .... 32.129 1938 .... .... 42,104 1939 .... .... 60,754 1910 .... .... 28,062