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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIV, 2 April 1904, Page 24

Here are some figures for conAderation by strikers and those who are not blessed with a compulsory Arbitration and Conciliation Act, such as we have in New Zealand. Over 28J million working days have been lost in the United Kingdom during the past fire years owing to strikes and lock-outs. The figures for the past three years are as under:—• 1902 3,573,890 days 1901 4.142 287 days. 1900 .............. 3,152,094 days The figures are very moderate, however, compared with the “black year”—lB9B—when the lost days numbered 15J millions. Of 442 disputes last year, 202 were settled in favour of the masters, 107 in favour of the men, and 123 were compromised, the remaining ten being left indefinite. The boards of conciliation and arbitration averted 669 disputes last year. _.j

Steamers nowadays should be unsinkable owing to their watertight compartments. but through the hitherto imperfect working of the doors which allow the officers and crew to pass through these openings in the bulkheads many sad catastrophes have occurred. A system known as the Stone-Lloyd system has been devised which does away with the difficulty of closing these doors oh the approach of danger or in case of a sudden collision. A small hydraulic installation gives the docile but resistless force necessary for (dosing all the doors in the bulkhead slowly but certainly. The officer on the bridge has only to mftve a lever which rings alarm bells, and after ten to twenty seconds interval sets the doors slowly but sure ly descending. Should a member of the crew not get through the door in time a lever opens it. and the door again closes automatically behind h.m : he cannot leave the door open. The great ocean liner, “ Deutschland.” has been fitted with these doors, and a few days ago a public exhibition of their working was given.