20) MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

seem to be rather below the usual figure of the industrial reserve
army ” and to show that no considerable number of workers is excluded
 from employment through the awards.
The industrial conciliation and arbitration act provides (arts. 145,
146) that workers may apply for permission to accept a wage below
that prescribed for ordinary workers and the method of doing SO.
There is no express stipulation restricting licenses to defective workers.
 The secretary of the trade-union is to be heard, but decision
rests with the tribunal designated by the court.* From the low
figures of unemployment it may be supposed the case of slow workers
has been taken care of under this provision of the law and that no
great hardship has been caused in that respect.
There has been no evidence pointing to any unfavorable consequence
 of the New Zealand legislation. Its main consequence lies in
the direction of industrial peace, and in the preponderance of farreaching
 wage and labor policies, dictated by considerations of gensral
 interest, over industrial strife and the “right” of the stronger
party.

2% Award 8868, summarized on p. 25 gives further permission for agreement between
workers and unions to work below the fixed rates even without express licenses from tke
authorities, and thus renders it easier for the slow workers to obtain employment.