H—4s

(ii) Accidents Involving the Payment of Compensation (Appendix, page 76) The incidence of accidents in waterfront work is illustrated by the fact that, of 7,431 unionists employed during the year ended 31st March, 1950, 2,059, or 27-7 per cent., sustained accidents which involved the payment of compensation. This is a lower percentage than for 1948-49, when the corresponding figure was 29| per cent. The total man-hours lost during 1949-50 (592,985) were also less than for 1948-49 (613,536). With the extension of first-aid clinics on the waterfront and investigation into the causes and prevention of accidents, it is hoped to still further reduce the prevalence of accidents to waterside workers. (iii) Sickness, Penalties, and Absence foe Othek Causes (Appendix, page 77) The availability for work of union waterside workers has improved slightly during the year ended 31st March, 1950. The days unionists were working or available for work (W) has increased from 82-83 per cent, in 1948-49 to 83-14 per cent, for 1949-50 for all ports. There is still a marked variation in availability at main ports as compared with secondary ports, although improvements in availability have been shown at all main ports except Port Chalmers. North Island secondary ports, except Wanganui, show decreases in availability, while the reverse is the position for South Island secondary ports, except Nelson. The highest records of availability for 1949-50 were at Westport (96-10 per cent.) and Wanganui (95-15 per cent.), while the lowest figures were recorded at Wellington (78-49 per cent.) and Auckland (80-11 per cent.). Reductions in all-ports percentages are shown for compensation, sickness, and absence (for other causes), but there was a slight increase in the percentage of penalties. 3. CO-OPERATIVE CONTRACTING (a) VALUE OF CONTRACTS AND TONNAGES HANDLED

The following table summarizes the number, value, and tonnages handled under theCommission's co-operative contracting system during the past three years, and the totals, for the ten years of Commission control: —

The reduction in number of contracts and tonnages handled during 1949-50, ascompared with previous years, is accounted for by the fact that for periods varying from eight weeks at Auckland, and four to five weeks at other ports, the co-operative contract system was suspended during the " Barnhill " —" overtime ban" disputes, 27th June to 18th August, 1949. Allowing for this period of suspension of the contracting system, on a proportionate basis the figures for the whole year for number of contracts and tonnages handled would have been slightly in excess of those for 1948-49. The increase in value of contracts during 1949-50, as compared with 1948-49, despite the reduction in number of contracts, is due to the rises in basic rates of wages, and hence in co-operative contract rates.

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Year. Number of Contracts. Value of Contracts. Tonnages Handled. 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50 4,127 4,179 3,850 £ 2,275,722 2,524,526 2,559,297 5,562,895 5,757,597 5,325,873 Totals, 1940-50 33,829 £18,124,512 44,088,559