H.—ll.

INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. Work done under the Act during the Year 1938 39. Industrial agreements filed .. .. .. 67 (last year 77). Awards of the Court of Arbitration .. .. .. 239 (last year 216). The awards and industrial agreements actually in force on the 31st March, 1939, total 568 (last year 598). This decrease is attributable to the fact that a number of awards with a scope covering only one district have been superseded by Dominion awards. Some new occupations now covered by awards or agreements which have not previously been covered are architectural assistants ; billiard and sports' rooms attendants ; licensed hotel clerical workers ; chartered club employees ; fish-shop employees ; forestry workers ; greenkeepers ; public accountants' employees ; racecourse employees ; racing-stable hands ; taxi telephonists ; umbrellaworkers. Work performed by Commissioners and Councils oe Conciliation. Industrial agreements made under section 28 of the principal Act .. .. .. ~ .. 67 (last year 77). Disputes where recommendations were substantially accepted or agreements reached and referred to the Court to make awards .. .. .. .. .. .. 144 (last year 145). Disputes where partial settlement was arrived at, and referred to the Court to make awards .. .. .. 69 (last year 98). An idea of the value of the work performed in conciliation can be obtained from the accompanying chart, which shows, since the inception of the Councils of Conciliation in 1909, the number of disputes dealt with by conciliation and the percentage of agreement reached. It will be seen that a high percentage of either complete or substantial agreement has been reached in conciliation, leaving a relatively small number of disputes to go on to arbitration each year. It is to be noted that the term " substantial agreement" covers only those cases in which one or two points of a minor nature remained to be settled by arbitration. Cases where several major clauses remained unsettled have been listed under " little or no agreement." The effect of the legislative changes in 1932 is clearly seen, while the position appears to be returning to normal since the reinstatement of the full system in 1936.

Industrial Conciliation MARCH YEARS

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