LOSSES THROUGH LABOUR DISPUTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21215, 9 December 1938, Page 8

LOSSES THROUGH LABOUR DISPUTES

Ministerial reminders to recalitrant workers that the cause of Labour, as well as the interests of the country and the welfare of the workers themselves, can be seriously damaged by recourse to direct action in seeking the settlement of industrial dispute, will again direct attention to the number of labour disputes that have upset New Zealand’s production within recent months. That the Minister’s warning is justified is demonstrated in the official statistics relating to industrial affairs in New Zealand. For instance, with 11 months of 1938 completed, the number of industrial disputes in the Dominion involving a stoppage of work is the highest since 1925. The number of workers concerned (approximately 12,000) is also the highest since 1925. The estimated loss in wages to the workers is expected to total between £40,000 and £50,000. According to the Abstract of Statistics, there were 56 cases under the heading of industrial disputes (strikes or stoppages of work) in the Dominion up to the end of September of this year. They involved 8262 workers. Since that there have been a further 16 cases of stoppage of work, involving approximately 4000 workers, bringing the aggregate up to the end of November to 72 and 12,000 workers. Since 1925 the number of disputes, the workers involved and the losses suffered in wages:

Official reports indicate that work has been stopped for varying periods this year in different parts of the Dominion in the freezing, mining, and various manufacturing industries, on the waterfront, on board ships, and in factories and workshops. State enterprises have not been exempt, and there have been stoppages on public works as well as the recent and major delays at the Otahuhu railway workshops, and time lost in State mines in the South Island. Repeated warnings have been voiced by Ministers of the Crown supported by the spokesmen of affected industries. ' It has been pointed out in a most timely fashion that because readily accessible constitutional channels are available for the use of all parties to industrial disputes the stoppages in New Zealand through labour disputes should be reduced to a minimum number and the country, together with interests closely involved, safeguarded against damaging irritation and pecuniary losses, and the workers themselves protected against the activities of the unruly elements and impatient spirits within their own ranks.

1025 No. of dispute. 83 Men involved. 9,905 Loss in wages. £ 49.149 1926 .. 59 6,264 32,355 1927 .. 38 4,476 11,819 1928 39 9,258 22,304 1929 .. 47 7,151 26,940 1930 .. 38 5,467 37,299 1931 .. .. .. .. .. 24 6,356 44,544 1932 23 9,355 105,715 1933 15 3,558 59,334 1934 24 3,773 7,121 1935 12 2,323 15,266 1936 43 7,354 12,886 1937 52 11,411 32,129 1938 (11 months .. .. 72 12,000 45,000