OHAP. 4.-—ARBITRATION IN NEW ZEALAND 29

vear 1926-27 arose in three trades only—coal miners, freezing-works
a and waterside workers. They resulted from various causes
and in only one case from a conflict as to wages.’® That the New
Zealand legislation seems to be efficacious may be gathered from the
following statement of the average number of days lost per year per
1,000 population by strikes and lockouts in the various countries durng
 the period 1919 to 1923.20

Great Britain _________________
Sweden_______________________
New South Wales _———_____
Sermany______________________
Western Australia_____________
Australia ________.____________
Italy

319
795
aay

2r19

South Australia. __._____
France...
Vietoria ______________________
Queensland __._______________
Canada oo
EA BI IVI i is mits i im
New Zealand___

270
259
234
223
194
121
R4

A further step to promote industrial peace through cooperation of
all groups of the population was undertaken on December 5, 1927,
when a committee was appointed by Parliament, at the instance of
the Prime Minister, composed of two members chosen by the Labor
Party and six members by the other parties to arrange for a conference
 of all interested in the industrial situation to study the
Dominion’s industrial problems.??

Effect on Business

The number of registered factories increased from 18469 in
1913-14 to 16,619 in 1926-27, and the number of factory workers from
37,517 to 108,404, the movement being approximately in accord with
that of the general population.?® There was no rapid industrialization,
 but taking the New Zealand policy of imperial preference into
consideration it can not be concluded that this legislation has hampered
 industry. As the average of real wages in 1926 was slightly
below the pre-war figure (see Table 6, p. 27), the costs of production
 do not seem to have been increased by the minimum wage
awards; indeed, the much smaller number of strike days as compared
 with other countries, would tend to decrease the cost of production.
 There is apparent no adverse influence on the development
2 industry from this legislation, but rather a slight beneficial
influence.

Influence on Discharges and Unemployment

The average number of unemployed filing applications at the
Government employment bureaus in 1926-27 was between 1,000 and
2,000.24 These figures are considered by the Department of Labor
as showing a certain depression of trade. When compared with the
total number of factory workers (exceeding 100,000), however, they

in Sew Zealand. Department of Labor. Report for 1826-27. Wellington, 1927,
bp. 6, 7,
® Idem, p. 8, quoting from a compilation by the International Labor Office.
" But the figures of the latest years are infinitely better (see p. 21).
, aSternational Labor Office. Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, Feb. 27, 1928,
’ ® Now Zealand. Department of Labor. Report for 1926-27, Wellington, 1927, p. 2.
“Idem, p. 1. But compare the New Zealand Statistical Report, 1926 Wellington, 1928,
0. 15, stating that not all persons register at the employment bureaus. The real figures
ire, therefore, somewhat higher.