H.—ll

6

(4.) Seamen. —As a protest against an award of the Court of Arbitration providing for a decrease in wages in consonance with the cost of living and for the removal of certain privileges, a strike took place amongst the seamen throughout the Dominion, extending in all over a period of approximately three months. The employers had little difficulty in arranging for free labour to fill the places of the men on strike, and on the whole the inconvenience caused to shipping as a result of the action of the men concerned was comparatively small. In. this industry the, altered wages and other conditions of employment as made in the, new award were deemed to be incorporated in the existing articles of the seamen, and where the articles were broken by the men's ceasing employment a breach of the Act was committed. Proceedings were instituted against 154 of the seamen, and a fine was imposed in each case. (5.) Goal-miners, liewanui. —As a mark of their sympathy with the seamen's strike ninety men employed at the State mines at Rewanui discontinued their employment for a period of four days. Action was taken against the men and penalties were imposed. (6.) Freezing-works Employees.- As a protest against a reduction in wages made in accordance with a general order of the Court of Arbitration, the feeezing-works employees in various parts of the Dominion discontinued their employment. The employers were not seriously inconvenienced as a result of this action on the part of the men, as sufficicent free labour was available for the remainder of the season. Proceedings were taken against the men in various localities, and tines were imposed. (This case is also mentioned in " Decisions of Interest.") (7.) Coal-miners, Millerton, and Oranity.—so2 employees at the Millerton and Granity mines discontinued, their employment for two days owing to the dismissal of a trucker who had used obscene language to the underground manager. The trucker subsequently apologized and was reinstated. Action was taken against the union, and a penalty of £20 was imposed. (8.) Shearers, Greta Paddock. —After having engaged to work at certain rates three shearers at the Greta Paddock Station demanded an increased rate for shearing certain sheep, and refused to commence shearing until their demand was complied with. The employer refused to pay the extra rate, and the men left the station. Action, was taken against the only shearer concerned who could be traced, and a penalty was imposed. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1922. By an important amendment of the Act the following provisions among others were passed into law during the year:— (I.) An industrial association comprising unions of employers or workers is empowered to file an industrial dispute, covering more than one industrial district, for hearing in the first instance by a Conciliation Council, instead of its being necessary to proceed directly to the Court of Arbitration as hitherto provided (by the 1911 Act). (2.) It is laid down that every industrial union and industrial association and every society bound by an agreement under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913, is to keep proper and accurate accounts, and the Registrar is given power to arrange for an audit by a public auditor. No such power has hitherto existed. (3.) it is made illegal for a union of workers to provide for payments by a member in the first month of membership exceeding ss. for entrance fee and Is. a week subscription. (4.) A levy on members of a union is declared to be invalid unless carried by ballot.