for October, 1918; and $14.48 for October, 1914. Fuel and rent were practically unchanged. In wholesale prices the index number calculated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics declined to 151.1, as compared with 152.5 for September; 156.0 for October, 1925; 157.0 for October, 1924; 153.1 for October, 1923; 148.1 for October, 1922; 155.6 for October, 1921; 236.3 for October, 1920; 256.7 for May, 1920 (the peak); and 206.9 for October, 1918. In the grouping according to chief component materials three of the eight main groups moved upward, three moved downward and two were unchanged. The Animals and their Products group advanced slightly, higher levels for milk and eggs more than counterbalancing lower levels for live stock, meats and leather. The Iron and its Products group also advanced, due to higher levels for pigiron and steel sheets. The Wood and Wood Products group showed a small increase. The Fibres, Textiles and Textile Products group and the Non-Ferrous Metals and their Products group declined, the former due to lower prices for cotton, cotton fabric and jute; and the latter due mainly to a drastic decline in the price of silver. The Vegetables and their Products group was little changed being slightly lower however, increases in the prices of grains, sugar and rubber being offset by declines in the prices of flour and milled products, potatoes and hay. The Non-Metallic Minerals and their Products group and the Chemicals and Allied Products group were unchanged. Workmen's Compensation in New York State The Department of Labour of the State of New York has published a special Bulletin (No. 146), analyzing the cost of compensation awarded in the year ended June 30, 1925, for industrial accidents. Another bulletin is promised analyzing the same awards with special reference to the causes of accidents. The plan of separately treating workmen's compensation under these two aspects is to be followed in future. During the twelve months reviewed the the Bureau of Workment's Compensation closed 76,216 awards for industrial accidents, costing in all $27,854,726. The total amount of compensation paid this year was 4.8 per cent greater than the total for cases closed during the preceding year. The corresponding increase in the number of cases closed was 4.4 per cent. Although the manufacturing industries, due largely to the great number of employees engaged therein, had many more compensated disabilities than the other groups, the average compensation for permanent partial and temporary disabilities was lower than for any of the other industries. The construction group, which had only half as many compensated disabilities as the manufacturing industries exhibited averages for both permanent partial and temporary disabilities that exceeded by far the averages for any other of the major groups of industries. each death was $5,898. For the 844 fatalities where awards were made to surviving dependents the average compensation was $7,345. The 2,031 dependents to whom awards were made were distributed as follows: widows, 670; children, 1,199; parents, 162. The average number of dependents for all of the death cases was 1.8, while the average for the 844 cases where dependents were left was 2.4. The wage distribution of the injured employees whose cases were closed during the year shows that the weekly wage, computed as provided in the law, for 46,579 employees was $30.49 a week or less. The wages of the remaining 26,637 were in excess of this amount. The significance of this appears when it is recalled that the rate of compensation is based on the weekly wage but may not exceed $20 a week. This means that the 29,637 employees whose wages were greater than $30.49 a week suffered greater proportional wage loss than those whose earnings fell below this amount, and were compensated at less than two-thirds wages. The median wages were in the following groups: males, $28.50-$29.49; females, $16.50$17.49; total, $28.50-$29.49. It therefore becomes apparent that almost half of the male workers who sustained disabilities earned more than $30 a week and were compensated by a maximum of $20 a week. The report contains statistical tables giving full particulars of the year's cases, by industries, location, nature of disabilities, number of dependents, sex, wages, etc. PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES INVESTIGATION ACT, 1907, DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1926 DURING the month of October the De partment received the report of the Board of Conciliation and Investigation established to deal with the dispute between the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and Canadian National Railways and certain employees of the said railways being conductors, trainmen and yardmen, members of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. One application was received for the establishment of a Board of Conciliation and Investigation, and three Boards were established in connection with disputes regarding which applications had been received during the preceding month. Application Received An application for the establishment of a Board of Conciliation and Investigation was received in the Department during the month of October from employees on Eastern and Western lines of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, being clerks, freight handlers, station employees, etc., members of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees. Other Proceedings under the Act During the month of October other proceedings under the Act took place, as follows: (1) A Board was established to deal with the dispute between the Shipping Federation of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Steam ships, Limited, and certain of their employees, being checkers and coopers, members of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees. The Board was composed as follows: Mr. Farquhar Robertson, Montreal, chairman, appointed on the joint recommendation of the other two members, Sir William Stavert, Montreal, appointed by the Minister in the absence of a recommendation from the employers, and Mr. J. T. Foster, Montreal, nominee of the employees. (2) A Board was established to deal with the dispute between the Canadian National Railways and certain of its employees on the Montreal wharf, being checkers, coopers and porters, members of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees. Two Board members were appointed as follows: Mr. U. E. Gillen, Toronto, on the recommendation of the employer, and Mr. J. T. Foster, Montreal, on the recommendation of the employees. At the close of the month the chairman had not yet been named. (3) A Board was established to deal with a dispute between the Canadian National Railways and certain of its employees in parlor and dining car service (on former Grand Trunk lines), members of the Canadian Brotherhood of Railroad Employees. The Board was composed of Mr. E. McG. Quirk, Montreal, chairman, appointed on the joint recommendation of the other two members, Messrs. Guy Tombs and H. S. Ross, both of Montreal, nominees of the employer and employee respectively. Report of Board in dispute between the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railways and their conductors and trainmen. A report was received from the Board established to deal with a dispute between the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and Canadian National Railways and certain employees of the said railways, being conductors, trainmen and yardmen, members of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. The Board posed as follows: The Honourable Mr. Justice Hugh T. Kelly, Toronto, chairman, appointed by the Minister in the absence of a joint recommendation from the other mem was com bers of the Board, Messrs. Isaac Pitblado. K.C., Winnipeg, nominee of the companies. and David Campbell, K.C., Winnipeg, nominee of the employees. The dispute related to wages only, and the report, which was signed by the chairman and the employers' representative, recommended that there should not be at this time any increase of pay. Mr. Campbell, the employees' representative, presented a minority report. The text of the two reports follows: Report of Board IN THE MATTER of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act, 1907, and in the matter of differences between the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the Canadian National Railways, and certain employees of the said railways, being conductors, trainmen and yardmen, members of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. To the Honourable The Minister of Labour, Ottawa, Ontario. SIR, The Board of Conciliation and Investigation established in the matter of differences between the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the Canadian National Railways, and certain employees of the said railways, being conductors, trainmen and yardmen, members of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and composed of the Honourable Mr. Justice Hugh T. Kelly, of Toronto, Chairman, Mr. Isaac Pitblado, K.C., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Mr. David Campbell, K.C., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, convened in Montreal on Saturday, September 4th, 1926, and continued in session there for several days; and afterwards it held meetings in Toronto and in Winnipeg. Mr. A. McGovern, General Chairman, Canadian Pacific Railway Lines East, Toronto, Ontario; Mr. J. Maloney, General Chairman, Canadian National Railways Lines East, (Old Grand Trunk Railway), Ottawa, Ontario; Mr. J. W. R. Hibbits, General Chairman, Canadian National Railways Lines East, Bedford, Nova Scotia; Representing the Railway Companies:On behalf of the Canadian National Railways Mr. A. E. Crilly, Chief of Wage Bureau, Montreal, P.Q.; Mr. C. F. Needham, Assistant to General Manager, Central Region, Toronto, On tario; Mr. A. A. Tisdale, Assistant to General Manager, Western Region, Winnipeg, Manitoba; On behalf of the Canadian Pacific Railway Mr. George Hodge, Assistant General Man- In February, 1926, on behalf of the em The employees were represented as fol- ployees above mentioned, there was submitted lows: a proposal for changes in rates of pay and On behalf of the Order of Railway Con- regulations for the classes represented by the ductors Mr. S. N. Berry, Senior Vice-President, Mr. G. A. Glay, General Chairman, Cana- Canadian National Railways Lines East On behalf of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Mr. W. J. Babe, Vice-President, St. Thomas, Ontario; Mr. A. J. Ryall, General Chairman, Canadian National Railways Lines West, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Mr. R. H. Urquhart, General Chairman, Canadian Pacific Railway Lines West, Winnipeg, Manitoba; 29395-2} Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. In April a proposal came from representatives of the employees that the questions involved should be dealt with collectively on behalf of the Railways instead of separately or individually. After some correspondence and conferences in regard to this proposal, the Railways expressed their willingness to enter into joint negotiations, and such negotiations took place at meetings of representatives of the respective parties on July 15th and 16th, which, however, resulted in the Railways' refusal to agree to any increase in existing rates of pay. On July 17th, 1926, an application was made by the employees for the establishment of a Board of Conciliation and Investigation. On July 28th the application was granted and a Board was established under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act, 1907. The employees recommended as a member of the Board Mr. David Campbell, K.C., of Winnipeg, and the employers recommended Mr. Isaac Pitblado, K.C., also of Winnipeg, as a member. These having become members of the Board and having failed to recommend adhered to their refusal to grant any increase in pay. At the sittings of the Board at which representatives of the parties concerned appeared, ample opportunity was given by the Board for presentation of the case from each side in the fullest manner possible. The representatives of the contending parties submitted lengthy written statements and arguments, supplemented by several exhibits and submissions, all of which remain on file and now form part of the case as so presented. In addition to this opportunity was also given to the named representatives of the parties and to others present from either side to verbally express themselves fully and frankly on the question involved. The proceedings were marked throughout by commendable harmony and apparent good feeling, creating the impression that on each side there was a desire to treat the matter in a purely business way and with due consideration for the other. On the opening of the first sittings of the Board at Montreal, Mr. Babe, representing the employees, submitted (as Exhibit 1) a statement of changes in scales of pay and regulations, acceptance of which they had requested from the Railways in the early part of this year and prior to the establishment of the Board. It was then stated on behalf of the employees, and acceded to, that the sole question submitted for the determination of the Board was increased rates of pay, as set out in Exhibit 1, which is as follows: ORDER OF RAILWAY CONDUCTORS BROTHERHOOD OF RAILROAD TRAINMEN The following changes in rates of pay and regulations for the classes represented by the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen are submitted: Corresponding increases to be added to the present rates of pay for Yardmasters and assistant Yardmasters. The main reasons now advanced as justifying or calling for increase of pay at the present time are:-the necessity for more money to enable these employees to maintain a suitable standard of living; advance in the standard of living; the hazards and hardships and the responsibility incident to their employment; additional expense of living necessitated by their absence from home while in the discharge of the duties of their employment; and the added expenditure for clothing suitable for their work due to the character of their employment and especially to climatic conditions; and arguments were advanced-as will appear upon a reference to the material filed-based upon and elaborating these and other reasons. Mr. Berry for the employees emphasized the importance that should be given to the employees responsibilities and what is expected of them, and he submitted that the employees were not basing their request for increase of pay on cost of living and that cost of living should be considered as a mere factor of the case. The representatives of the employees in their presentation went into the history of conditions, rates of pay, cost of living, etc., extending as far back as 1914, with special reference to changes in these respects which followed the outbreak of the War. After cost of living had materially advanced, increases in rates of pay were more than once granted, and other changes took place to the employees' advantage such as reduction in hours of the basic day, increase in the rate of pay for overtime in certain cases. The last of these increases in pay was in 1920. What occurred in 1921 and in January, 1922, was much discussed before the Board; it has an important bearing upon the merits of the present demands. In May, 1921, the Railway |