H.—ll

Consequent on the Amendment Act, which came into force in April, 1932, the review of awards and agreements involved considerable extra work for Conciliation Commissioners and the Department's officers, it being found necessary to appoint temporary Commissioners to cope with disputes created. Section 7 (4) of the 1932 Amendment Act provides that where a settlement of the dispute has not been arrived at by the Council of Conciliation appointed for the hearing thereof every award or industrial agreement theretofore binding on the parties to the dispute in connection with the industry to which the dispute relates shall cease to be in force on the expiration of one month from the date of the Commissioner's notification to the Clerk of Awards that no settlement of the dispute was arrived at. Under this provision failure to reach a settlement in the 97 cases mentioned above resulted in the cancellation of 69 awards and industrial agreements and the partial cancellation of 6. The dispute over wages was the principal cause of failure to reach an agreement. It could hardly be expected that complete agreements would be reached in all cases ; however, in the majority of cases where no agreement was reached the discussions in the Conciliation Councils disclosed a strong desire on the part of both workers and employers to regulate the conditions of employment in the industry. The following summary shows the wage-rates fixed by awards and agreements made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1932, in a number of the principal industries, as compared with the rates fixed by the awards and agreements that were in operation immediately prior thereto. (Except where otherwise indicated, Wellington rates have been taken.)

Section 7 (5) of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1932, provides that where no settlement is arrived at in the case of a dispute in an industry or industries where female workers are employed the Court of Arbitration may, on application, make an order fixing the minimum rates of wages that may be paid to the female workers in the industry or industries concerned, such order to operate and be enforceable as an award, and to continue in force for a period of not less than six or more than twelve months, as may be specified therein. Only one such order—viz., that relating to female employees in private hotels—has so far been made by the Court (see Book of Awards, Vol. XXXII, p. 546).

4

Industry. Present Rati'. Previous Rate. Bakers (North Canterbury) .. £-4 7s. 6d. per week .. £5 per week, less 10 per cent. ■= £4 10s. Boot operatives— .Mul© . . .. • .. Is. 9fd. per hour .. 2s. OJd. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. 9fd. Female .. . . £2 4s. per week .. £2 10s. per week, less 10 per cent. = £2 5s. Butchers .. £4 6s. to £5 3s. 6d. per week.. £4 16s. to £5 17s. 6d. per week, less 10 per cent. = £4 6s. 5d. to £5 5s. 9d. Carpenters and joiners .% .. 2s. per hour .. .. 2s. 3£d. per hour, less 10 per cent. = 2s. Id. Clothing trade employees— Female .. .. £2 0s. 6d. per week .. £2 5s. per week, less 10 per cent. == £2 0s. 6d. Male .. ,. .. £3 188. 9d. f or week .. £4 7s. 6d. per week, less 10 per cent. = £3 18s. 9d. Coachworkers .. .. .. 2s. per hour .. .. 2s. 3d. per hour, less 10 per cent. = 2s. 0j=^d. Cheese and butter factory employees £3 13s. to £4 13s. 2d. per week £4 Is. to £5 3s. 6(1., less 10 per cent.=£3 12s. 1 Id. (Auckland) to £4 13s. 2d. Drivers— (a) Motor .. .. (a) £3 19s. to £4 9s. 6d. per £4 lis. to £5 3s. per week, less 10 per cent. = week £4 Is. lid. to £4 12s. 8d. (b) Horse .. .. .. (0} £3 17s. 8d. per week for one £4 8s. per week for one horse to £4 lis. per week horse, £4 Is. per week for j for two horses, plus 2s. 6d. per week for each two or more horses additional horse. Less 10 per cent. = £3 19s. 2d. to £4 Is. lid., plus 2s. 3d. for each ! additional horse. Drivers (passenger transport) .. £4 5s. per week .. .. £5 per week, less 10 per cent. = £4 10s. Electrical workers .. 2s. Id. per hour, less 10 per 2s. 3d. per hour, less 10 per cent. = 2s. 0^d. cent. = Is. 10£d. Engine-drivers, firemen, and greasers (Canterbury)— Drivers, 1st Class Certificate .. Is. 9jd. per hour .. 2s. l jd. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. lid. Drivers, 2nd Class Certificate .. Is. 8d. per hour .. 2s. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. 9fd. Firemen and greasers .. .. Is. 7£d. per hour .. .. Is. ll£d. per hour, less 10 per cent. - Is. 8ftd. Grocers' assistants (Auckland) .. £4 5s. per week .. £4 15s., less 10 per cent. = £4 5s. 6d. Hairdressers .. .. £4 2s. 6d. per week .. £5, less 10 per cent. = £4 10s. Shop assistants— Adult males .. .. £4 5s. 6d. per week .. £4 15s., less 10 per cent. = £4 5s. 6d. Adult females .. .. £2 7s. 3d. per week .. £2 12s. 6d., less 10 per cent. = £2 7s. 3d. Storemen and Packers (Wholesale).. £3 12s. 9d. per week .. £4 5s., less 10 per cent. = £3 16s. 6d. Storemen and packers (oil-stores) .. £3 15s. per week .. .. £4 7s. 6d., less 10 per cent. = £3 18s. 9d. Storemen and packers (wool, grain, £3 12s. 6d. per week .. £4 5s., less 10 per cent. = £3 16s. 6d. &c., stores) Tramway employees— Motormen (after first year) .. Is. 9|d. per hour .. 2s. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. 9j}d. Conductors (after first year) . . Is. 8d. per hour .. Is. lOd. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. 7|d. Conductors (after fifth year) .. Is. 8jd. per hour .. Is. 10£d. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. 8£d. Motor-bus drivers .. Is. 9fd. per hour .. .. 2s. per hour, less 10 per cent. = Is. 9£d. typographers .. . . . . £4 to £4 14s. 6d. per week .. £4 15s. to £5 10s., less 10 per cent. = £4 5s. 6d. 1 I to £4 19s.