H.—ll.

Registration of Industrial Associations and Unions. Tlie usual statutory return (to the 31st December, 1930) of the associations and unions registered under the Act, with their membership at that date, is published herewith as an appendix. Comparison with the previous year shows that the total number of workers' unions has increased by one (to 416) and the total membership has decreased by 1,130 (from 102,646 to 101,516). Inspections, etc. During the year 3,810 complaints of alleged breaches of the Act and of awards and industrial agreements, &c., were received, but it was found on investigation that in 1,172 cases no breach had been committed ; in 252 cases proceedings were taken, and in 2,013 warnings were given. No action was considered necessary in the remaining cases. Apart from the complaints mentioned above, a large proportion of the general inspections of factories, shops, &c., totalling 30,651, included an inspection to ascertain whether the awards and agreements were being complied with in respect of wages, overtime, &c., and as a result of these inspections 169 prosecutions were taken and warnings were given in other cases. Of the 421 prosecutions, 310 were against employers and 111 against workers ; 371 convictions were recorded, 263 against employers and 108 against workers. Of the prosecutions against workers 12 wêre against the employees of one firm for signing an incorrect record in the holiday book, 53 were under the strike provisions of the Act (freezing industry), while the remainder were principally for accepting less than award rates of wages. Total penalties, £614. Industrial Disturbances during the Year. There were in all thirty-five industrial disturbances during the year. The following is a summary of the larger disturbances : — Slaughtermen (Otago).—A strike of slaughtermen and their assistants occurred in a freezing-works owing to the management's refusal to employ a certain worker. After a few days the management engaged sufficient volunteer labour to replace the strikers. Proceedings were taken against fifty-three of the strikers under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and penalties totalling £145 were inflicted. The men employed in several other freezing-works adopted a " go-slow " policy in sympathy with the above strikers, but after a few days normal work was resumed. Coal-miners (Stockton). —The proprietors of a coal-mine had agreed to share the available work amongst all the members of the union. After this arrangement had been in operation for a month, however, the company found it impossible to carry on and requested a reversion to the previous methods of working. The men refused, and ceased work, but both sides later agreed to abide by the ruling of an independent chairman, who decided in favour of the company. The number of men involved was 290, and the stoppage extended over twenty-four working-days. Coal-miners (Blackball). —The management of the mine desired, owing to slackness of trade, to dispense with a number of men and to work one shift only. The union objected, and requested that the available work be shared amongst all the existing employees. No agreement was arrived at, and after six weeks the management decided that, as the mine had been working for several years at a loss, it be closed down. The number of men employed at this mine was approximately 270. Coal-miners (Glen Afton). —The miners ceased work with the object of compelling the management to employ members of the union in preference to non-unionists. The mine, which employs 523 men, was idle for ten days. The men's demands were not conceded. LABOUR DISPUTES INVESTIGATION ACT, 1913. The following information shows the extent to which the workers have preferred the method provided by the above Act for the settlement of their disputes to the procedure to be followed if they register under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act :■ —•

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Industry affected. Particulars. Ballot of Workers. J Nature of Settlement. Gas Company's clerical and Conference called by Conciliation Commis- Not required .. Agreement filed purshowroom employees, Auck- sioner resulted in settlement suant to section 8 land (1). Transport Board's coach and Agreement reached without recourse to a ,, . . Ditto. car workers, Auckland conference under the Act or to a Labour Disputes Committee Dairy-factory managers, Wei- Ditto .. .. .. .. „ .. ,, ling ton District Glass workers, Auckland . . „ .. .. .. .. „ .. „ Meat - preserving employees, „ .. .. .. .. „ . .. „ Auckland Transport Board's tramway „ .. .. .. .. „ „ and omnibus employees, Auckland Coal-miners, Linton .. ,, .. .. . . .. ,, .. „ Engineers in power - houses, „ . . .. . . .. ,, . . Agreement arrived at Auckland but not filed.