H.—ll
XI
case. It gave rise to a very interesting decision, which is to be found in Book of Awards, Vol. ix, p. 224. A signwriter and embosser, considering himself an artist and not an artisan, declined to join the Painters' Union as directed by the 'ward. The Court held that the signwriter had committed a breach of award by refusing to join the union, but would not inflict a penalty if the respondent applied for membership therein within fourteen days. A unique proceeding under the Arbitration Art took place through the appointment of a special Board of Conciliation under section 51 of the main Act to investigate a dispute brought forward by the Auckland Slaughtermen's Employees' Union. The Board sat at Auckland in July, 1907, with Mr. Arthur Myers. Mayor of Auckland, as Chairman. The recommendations of the Board were made binding as an industrial agreement (Book of Awards, Vol. viii, p. 443). Cases relating to deduction from wages for time lost, holidays, &c, may be found by those interested, in Book of Awards, Vol. viii, pp. 252, 613, 916, 1045, 1046, and 1 106. The annual return of membership of all industrial unions as at 31st December last is embodied in a separate parliamentary paper. For the last three years the membership of employers and workers was as follows :—
This shows an increase of twelve employers' unions, with an additional membership of 293, and an increase of thirty-six workers' unions, with 10,636 added members during the year. It will he noted from the figures thai the increase of the membership of workers' unions for the year ending .'ilst December is greater than for the previous years. If the discontent with the Arbitration Act is as widespread and deep as some persons allege this phenomenal increase in the membership of the workers' unions seems difficult to explain. An interesting comparison is afforded by a study of the following table, in which I have grouped the number of members in industrial unions according to the several branches of industry: i.e., Agriculture, building, clothing, and textile, engineering and shipbuilding, food, mining, printing, transport, and miscellaneous small trades difficult to classify under the several headings. The unions given under the heading " Transport " include, for instance : Cabmen, carriers, drivers, railway servants, seamen, tramway employees, wharf-labourers, &c. The following table shows the number of unionists employed in various trades during the years ended 1903 and 1907 (inclusive) : —
The growth of the various unions has been persistent and steady ; the greatest increases being gained by the building, food, agricultural, and transport industries. The number of cases taken under the Act by the Department was considerably larger this year than last; a total of 754 cases for breaches of award being taken before the Court, as against 406 last year. Of the cases taken, 577 were decided in favour of the Department, seventy-two were dismissed, and 105 withdrawn. The number of cases withdrawn will, no doubt, appear excessive, but a large number were dealt with in this way in Wellington alone, owing to the Arbitration Court's decision as to the invalidity of the Cooks and Waiters' agreement.
Unions of Employers. Unions of Unions of Workers. ' Workers. X l IMOI1S VTi itn It. ... t\- \ T i IVV\ 1 .. . I II f \ v outers. Number of Number of i'nions. Members. Number o: I iiiiuis. Number of Members. K Number of Unions. Number oi Unions. Number of Members. Number c Mem hi is •ecember, 1905 1906 1907 113 109 121 3,276 3,337 3.630 261 274 310 29,869 34,978 45,614
Trade. 1903. 1907. Increase per Cent Agriculture Building Clothing and textile Engineering and shipbuilding Food Mining Printing Transport Other trades 1.235 3.717 3,158 1,441 2.297 4,145 708 7,749 3,190 2,999 6,572 3,679 1,975 4,377 5,642 1,038 13,864 5,468 142-8 76-8 16-5 370 90-5 361 46-6 78-9 70-4 Total A-verage increase of all unions 27,640 45,614 65-0