STRIKES DO NOT PAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18756, 12 July 1935, Page 12

STRIKES DO NOT PAY

U.K.'S YEAR OP PEACE trade disputes LONDON, May 18. Britain experienced in 1934 the most peaceful industrial year in living memory. In fact, there, are no records to show when there was a year so little dislocated by strikes and lock-outs. The Ministry of Labor Gazette today proves that it was easily the most peaceful year for fifty yenrs. Last year 960.000 working days war lost by trade disputes. This compares with 162,230,000 lost davs in 1926. 86,000,000 in 1921, 40,890,000 in 19.12. and 30,-140,00 in .1893—42 years ago. ' There Ims not been a single year in the last 50 years in which fewer than 1.000,000 .working days were lost through trade disputes annually. 1935 : STARTS BADLY Strikes do not pay. There were 471 disputes last year. Only 136, or 28.9 per cent, ended in favor of the workpeople. Disputes ending in favor of employers numbered 186, or 39.5 per cent, while a compromise ended 31.4 per cent. More than half the disputes last year concerned people engaged in mining and quarrying. Then came disputes in metal, engiiieering and shipbuilding, in transport, and in the textile trades. So far this year disputes have been more numerous and more than twice as serious as in tho first four months of last. year. There seems little likelihood now of last year's record for peace being seriously challenged. In tho first four months of this year 175 disputes, involving 71,600 workers, have resulted in 561,000 days being lost. This compares with 167 disputes, with 38,800 workers and 262,000 lost working days, in the comparable period of 1934. Again, more than half the workpeople involved are engaged in mining and quarrying. .