H.—45

From the above figures it will be seen that the present guarantee does not mean very much to the worker, and although the union has from time to time made requests for the extension of the present scheme to other ports, no effort has been made to submit alternative proposals. The union, in requesting the extension of the present scheme to secondary ports, would not depart from the guarantee based on weekly earnings, and the Commission found it difficult to justify payment in one week where the earnings of the worker may have been as high as £10 to £15 in both the previous and succeeding weeks, and suggested that the scheme for secondary ports be based on four-weekly average. The Commission considers, however, that a more comprehensive scheme should be provided to cover all -ports. The question is one which requires thorough research and investigation and will no doubt also be affected by the proposed Government legislation regarding family income. In the meantime the union and the N.Z. Waterside Employers' Association have been requested to prepare detailed proposals setting out their views. 12. WAITING-ROOM ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES It is the responsibility of Harbour Boards to provide suitable waiting-room accommodation for waterside workers, but a number of Harbour Boards have done little to fulfil this obligation, and the standard of accommodation at some ports is totally inadequate. Although there has been a shortage of labour and materials during the war years, it is considered that more could have been done to improve the waiting-room accommodation at certain ports. Some Harbour Boards have not been in a financial position to erect new buildings, and the Commission has assisted. At Napier a new assembly hall and administrative offices has been erected by the Commission at a cost of approximately £7,500, and the building is a very decided improvement on the facilities which previously existed. Waterside workers and other persons using the buildings have expressed their appreciation for the up-to-date facilities, and the Commission is pleased to record that members are exercising every care in its use. Administrative offices and waiting-rooms are also being erected by the Commission at Westport and Greymouth, where the accommodation is very unsatisfactory. The N.Z. Waterside Employers' Association is sympathetic to the needs of waterside workers for improved accommodation and has stated it is prepared to join with the union in making representations to the various Harbour Boards. In addition to waiting-room accommodation, there is a need at main ports for modern restaurant and canteen facilities within the confines of the wharves where meals can be obtained at reasonable prices. The Commission trusts that with the cessation of hostilities the shortage of labour and materials will be easier and Harbour Boards will take steps to carry out additions and improvements where required. 13. ACCOUNTS (1) GENERAL The extension and diversification of the Commission's activities during the five years covered by this report is reflected in the increased number of funds in operation. In addition to Consolidated Fund expenditure, Co-operative Contracting and Labour Engagement Bureaux, and Central Pay Offices (now National Pay Office Fund), further funds were established during the period for Supervision, Industrial Rest Period, Annual Holidays Act, Buildings, and for General (Administration). Summarized, the present position regarding the headings under which the Commission's accounts are grouped is as follows : — Name of Fund. Date from which Fund operative. Consolidated (Vote " Labour ") . . .. .. 9th April, 1940. Co-operative Contracting .. .. .. .. 10th July, 1940. National Pay Office .. .. .. .. .. 10th July, 1940. General (Administration) .. .. .. .. 9th April, 1940. Supervision .. .. .. .. .. .. 29th April, 1942. Industrial Rest Period .. .. .. .. 7th December, 1943. Annual Holidays Act .. .. .. Ist August, 1944. Buildings . . . . . . . . .. . . Ist April, 1944-. Detailed statements of account for each fund covering Revenue, Appropriation, and Accumulated Funds accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1945, and Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1945, are included in the Appendix. Summarized comparative annual statements of Revenue, Appropriation, and Accumulated Funds accounts for each fund in operation prior to Ist April, 1944-, are also included in order to cover the four-year gap since the Commission's previously published accounts (1941). In order to illustrate the overall growth and development of the Commission's activities, two combined " all funds " statements have been added to the Appendix (pages 86 and 87) and show— (a) Annual totals of all expenditure and income, &c., controlled by the Commission. (b) Total fund expenditures and incomes for the five-year period ended 31st March, 1945, including percentage of each fund to total " all funds " income and expenditure. These statements reveal the following points : —• (i) Total income rose from £437,201 in 1940-41 to £3,584,366 in 1913 44 (peak year), falling to £2,944,598 in 1944-45, and aggregating £10,286,700 for the five-year period. (ii) Total expenditure increased from £384,874 in 1940-41 to £3,356,839 in 1943-44 (peak year), decreased to £2,742,634 in 1944-45, and amounted to £9,508,791 over the five-year period. (iii) Total Profit Distribution (99-60 per cent. Co-operative Contracts Fund ; 0-40 per cent. Supervision Fund), which in 1940—41 was £42,799, increased progressively to £174,642 in 1944-45, and totalled £622,483 for the five years. (iv) Co-operative Contracts Fund accounts for 93-68 per cent, of the " total income " and for 94-13 per cent, of the " total expenditure " for the five year period. (v) Administrative costs under all headings amount to only 3-77 per cent, of " total income " and 3-46 per cent, of " total expenditure," the figures for the individual administrative funds being— ■p, j Percentage of Percentage of "Total Income." " Total Expenditure." General (Administration) .. .. 0• 90 0-87 National Pay Office .. .. ..2-34 2-01 Consolidated (Vote" Labour") .. .. 0-53 0-58 3-77 3-46

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