CHAP, 4.—ARBITRATION IN NEW ZEALAND 25

make, on application of the parties, a minimum rate of wages and
provide lower rates for workers unable to earn the minimum. These
lower rates are to be fixed by tribunals determined by order of the
court. (Art. 99.) Workers striking, although bound by an award,
are liable to be fined £10. (Art. 123.) Employers who, under the
same conditions, declare a lockout may be fined £500. (Art. 123,
sec. 2.) Trade-unions or employers breaking an award or an agreenent
 may be fined £100 (art. 129), and if they instigate an unlawful
strike or lockout, £200 (art. 124).
The working of the machinery may best be illustrated by citing
the main provisions of a typical award rendered by the court. The
award chosen for this purpose is an award still in force—award No.
3868, in the shipbuilding industry in the district of the capital,
Wellington. The week's hours are fixed at 44 (sec. 1) and wages
at 2s. 414d. per hour (sec. 2). If a worker has to work elsewhere
than at his usual place of work, expenses are to be paid by the employer.
 (Sec. 7.) For work aloft above the main rigging, 1s. 6d.
per day extra shall be paid. (Sec. 8.) If employers and workers
do not agree on the particular pay for salvage work, the matter shall
9¢ decided by the inspector of awards. (Sec. 9.) Employers shall
lismiss workers not members of the union and not becoming members
after a fortnight if the union requests them to do so, and if there is
a member of a union qualified for the work and willing to undertake
tt. The provision shall operate only as long as the union freely
admits new members. (Sec. 14.)
Workers may apply for permission to work below the award rates.
The union must be notified. The local inspector of awards or such
Person as may be appointed by the court for that purpose accepts or
rejects the application. That person must take into account the
worker’s capability, his past earnings, and other circumstances of
importance. Workers may, however, agree with the president or
secretary of the union for permission to work below the award rates
without such a decision, on condition that notice is given to the in-Spector
 of awards. Employers must examine these permits before
amploying workers at such lower wages. (Sec. 15.) Certain operations
 are enumerated and classed as “dirty work.” Extra pay for
them is 1s. 6d. per day. (Sec. 16.)
Disputes are to be submitted to the inspector of awards and appeals
to the court. (Sec. 18.) Workers may be discharged at the port
where they first joined the ship, on 24 hours’ notice. (Sec. 21.)
Overtime rates are fixed at 2s. 9d. per hour. (Sec. 23.) The
0) is valid from December 23, 1926, to December 31, 1928. (Sec.
The labor disputes investigation act of December 15, 1913 (No. 75)
applies, as already explained, to associations which have not voluntarily
 registered under the other act. Societies which are not bound
by the other act may, by article 4 of this act, give notice to the
minister of any dispute, specifying the parties thereto and formulatmg
 their claims. The minister shall refer the matter either to consiliation
 under the other act or to investigation by a labor dispute committee
 composed of an equal number of representatives of each party

ents, ete,
on Department of Labor. Awards, recommendations, agrecments,
mage’ a sia, relation and arbitration act. Wellington, 1926, vol. 26.
D. 1804.