in pursuance of the above Section and §4, Sub-section 5, of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, hereby makes the following Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Rules :- (1) The owner of any controlled establishment shall, as soon as practicable, post Rules relating to order, discipline, time-keeping and efficiency, conspicuously in his establishment so as to bring them effectively to the knowledge of workmen employed therein. Copies of rules so posted shall be sent to the Minister of Munitions. (2) Every person employed in the establishment shall comply with any rule so posted; provided that no person shall be liable to a penalty under the Act for failing or refusing to comply with any rule, if the Munitions Tribunal is satisfied that the rule is an unreasonable one, or that the person had just cause for his failure or refusal to comply with it. (3) These Regulations may be cited as The Munitions (Ordering of Work) Regulation, 1915. 1915. (4) These Regulations shall come into force on the 14th day of July, 16. An Act for the Compilation of a National Register. (Ch. 60.) 15th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 36.) [Register of persons between the ages of 15 and 65.] I. 2. 4. [Duty to fill up and register forms.] (1) For the purpose of enabling such a register to be compiled, it shall be the duty of every such person as aforesaid, within the prescribed time, to fill up and sign a form showing the following particulars: (a) Name; place of residence; age; whether single, married or widowed; number of dependants (if any), distinguishing wife, children and other dependants; profession or occupation (if any); name and business address of employer (if any) and nature of employer's business ; and (in the case of a person born abroad) nationality if not British; and (b) whether the work on which he is employed is work for or under any Government Department; (c) whether he is skilled in and able and willing to perform any work other than the work (if any) at which he is at the time employed, and, if so, the nature thereof. 5. [Completion and correction of forms.] 6. [Right to certificate of registration.] 7. [Notification of changes of address.] 8. [Matters to be prescribed by instructions.] 10. [Duty of employers to furnish information.] 12. [Exceptions.] 13. [Penalties for offences.] 17 The Munitions (War Service Badges) (Provisional) Rules, made by the Minister of Munitions under §8 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915. 23rd July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 348.) [Applies to England and Wales.] 18 The Munitions Tribunals (Scotland) Rules, 1915, dated 28th July, 1915, for Constituting and Regulating Munitions Tribunals in Scotland made in pursuance of §15 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, by the Secretary for Scotland as far as relates to Offences, and by the Minister of Munitions as far as relates to Other Matters. 25th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 335.) 19 An Act to provide for the limitation of the Price of Coal. (Ch. 75.) 29th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 65.) (Coal at the pit's mouth not to be sold at a price exceeding by 4s. a ton, the price at which it was sold on the corresponding date between July, 1913June, 1914.) 20 The Munitions Tribunal (Ireland) (Provisional) Rules, 1915, dated 4th August, 1915, for Constituting and Regulating Munitions Tribunals in Ireland, made in pursuance of §15 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, by the Lord Lieutenant as far as relates to Offences and by the Minister of Munitions as far as relates to Other Matters. 4th August, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 342.) 21 Order in Council under §3 of the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions Act, 1865, approving Scheme of Pensions for Seamen and Marines discharged owing to Injuries received or Disease contracted on Service during the present War. 12th August, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 381.) (For total disablement, 25s. per week, otherwise such pension as with the wages would amount to 25s. altogether, but not less than 10s. 6d. a week if he has lost a limb or the sight of an eye. Additions to pensions in respect of each child under 16 years (not exceeding 2s. 6d. per week). The additions for children may be continued beyond the age of 16 in the case of apprentices or children at school. Pensions and allowances granted as from 1st March, 1915.) 22 The Unemployment Book (War) Regulations, 1915, made by the Board of Trade under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, the National Insurance (Part II. Amendment) Act, 1914, and the National Insurance (Part II. Amendment) Act, 1915. 20th August, 1915. The Board of Trade, in pursuance of §91 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, hereby make the following Regulations : (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Unemployment Book (War) Regulations, 1915, and shall come into force on the date thereof. (2) If a workman employed in an insured trade, on or in connection with munitions work in any establishment of a class to which the provisions of §7 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, are applied by Order of the Minister of Munitions leaves work without having obtained a certificate from the employer by whom he was last so employed that he left work with the consent of his employer, or a certificate from the Munitions Tribunal that such consent was unreasonably withheld, the employer shall forthwith deliver the workman's unemployment book to a local office of the unemployment fund, instead of returning it to the workman as required by Regulation 5 of the Unemployment Insurance Regulations, 1912. I. Va. British Colonies COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. An Act to provide for the grant of Pensions upon the death or incapacity of members of the Defence Force of the Commonwealth and members of the Imperial Reserve Forces resident in Australia whose death or incapacity results from their employment in connection with warlike operations. (No. 34 of 1914.) Assented to 21st December, 1914. Rates of pensions : (a) In case of the death of a member of the Forces : (i.) to the widow, the rate specified in column 2 of the Schedule opposite to the rate of pay of the member, and (ii.) to each child the rate of £13 per annum. (iii.) to the other dependants such rates as are assessed by the Pensions Board, but not exceeding in the aggregate the rate specified in column 2 of the Schedule opposite to the rate of pay of the member, plus £52 per annum. (b) In case of the total incapacity of a member of the Forces : (i.) to the member, the rate specified in column 3 of the Schedule opposite to the rate of pay of the member; (ii.) to the wife of the member, 50 per cent. of that rate; (c) In case of partial incapacity of a member of the Forces, such less rates than those referred to in paragraph (b) as are assessed by the Pensions Board, having regard to the nature and probable duration of the incapacity. II. NEW SOUTH WALES. 1 An Act to provide for the control of necessary commodities and for purposes incidental thereto. (No. 18, 1914.) Assented to 25th August, 1914. (N.S.W. Industrial Gazette VI., 853.) [Appointment of a Commission consisting of three persons whose duty it shall be to inquire into and report as to the prices of necessary commodities; declaration of maximum prices by the Governor; penalty for offering for sale at higher than declared prices; seizure of necessary commodities by the State for redistribution to the public.] 2 An Act to enable the Government to compulsorily acquire wheat in New South Wales; to provide for compensation for wheat so acquired and for its sale and distribution; to provide for varying or cancelling certain contracts for the sale and delivery of wheat; and for purposes consequent thereon or incidental thereto. (No. 27, 1914.) Assented to 11th December, 1914. 3 An Act to secure supplies of meat for the uses of His Majesty's Imperial Government during War, and for other purposes. (No. 6, 1915.) Assented to 17th February, 1915. (N.S.W. Industrial Gazette VII., 738.) [All meat and stock to be held for Imperial uses; prices to be fixed by a Board.] 1 An Act to make provision against undue restriction of the supply of goods or undue raising of the prices of seeds in time of war. (No. 2516.) 9th September, 1914. [The Governor in Council may appoint a " Prices Board " to inquire into and report to the Government as to the highest selling price.] 2 An Act relating to the Distribution, Export and Prices of Foodstuffs and other Commodities and to compel the supplying of information in relation thereto. (No. 2517.) 10th September, 1914. [The Prices Board referred to above is required to investigate and from time to time report to the Governor in Council upon the distribution, export and prices of foodstuffs and other commodities; persons having in their possession foodstuffs are required to furnish returns from time to time.] 3 An Act to continue the Foodstuffs and Commities Act, 1914. (No. 2572.) 30th December, 1914. 4 An Act to amend and continue the Price of Goods Act, 1914. (No. 2577.) 30th December, 1914. 5 6 An Act to continue the Foodstuffs and Commodities Acts. (No. 2579.) 30th April, 1915. (No. An Act to continue the Price of Goods Act, 1914, and the Price of Goods IV. NEW ZEALAND. Judgment of the Court of Arbitration in re Hearing of Industrial Disputes. (Journal of the Department of Labour, April 1915; No. 266, p. 234.) In the Court of Arbitration of New Zealand, Wellington Industrial District: In the matter of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1908, and its amendments; and in the matter of the hearing of industrial disputes during the period of the War. Application that the Court resume the hearing of industrial disputes.-Hearing, Wellington, 16th and 17th March, 1915; Judgment, 26th March.-Mr. Carey in support of the application; Mr. Pryor, for the employers, to oppose. Judgment of the Court, Delivered by Stringer. At a sitting of this Court held in August last we pointed out that, as our country had become involved in a great European War, it was impossible to forecast what effect this might have upon the commerce and industries of the Dominion. We therefore suggested that it would be unwise, if not improper, to attempt to make awards purporting to regulate industries under conditions of which we had no previous experience, and we asked for an expression of opinion on the subject from representatives of both employers and workers. On the following day we were supplied with the text of resolutions passed at representative meetings of employers and labour organisations. The employers were of opinion that the Court should suspend operations during the crisis, as it was thought that the Court would not be justified in making any awards in view of the fact that it was impossible to foresee "the industrial conditions of the immediate future." The labour organisations agreed that disputes should be adjourned "till normal conditions were reached again." The Court accepted these representations as indicating a general agreement with the suggestions we had made as before mentioned, and the Court then adjourned, expressing the belief that employers and workers would meet one and another in a fair and reasonable spirit, and make satisfactory arrangements between themselves in any industry which might prove to be particularly affected by the war. We understand from Mr. Carey on behalf of the workers, and it was admitted by Mr. Pryor, the employers' representative, that since the announcement made by the Court, the employers had taken up the attitude that they would not consider any disputes, and would not take any part in any proceedings before the Conciliation Councils during the continuance of the war, and had justified this attitude as being the result of a supposed ruling of the Court. We can only say that the employers have proceeded under a misapprehension of the Court's opinion on the matter. It was never intended by us that the entire machinery of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, so far as it relates to industries, should remain inoperative for the whole period of the war, and nothing was said by us which could bear such an interpretation. object we had in view was to refrain from making awards until a reasonable time had elapsed after the commencement of the war, in order that the effect of the war upon our commerce and industries might be properly understood and appreciated, and was not intended to be other than a mere temporary expedient until conditions had reached something like a state of stable equilibrium. We have now experienced nearly eight months of the war, and are in a position to form an opinion as to how it has affected and is likely to affect our commerce and industries, and it is safe to say that there is a general consensus of opinion of those best qualified to know that, although certain industries are suffering from the effects of the war, the Dominion as a whole has been singularly free from any ill-effects resulting therefrom, and it is enjoying a degree of prosperity quite remarkable in the circumstances, largely due, no doubt, to the exceptionally high prices being obtained for all our primary products. That being the case, we can see no reason or justification for refusing to resume our functions. It was said by Mr. Pryor that if the Court decided to again hear and consider disputes many businesses would be ruined, that there would be a great increase in the number of unemployed, and that it would be disastrous to employers, workers and the community generally. We think there is probably a good deal of rhetorical exaggeration in this statement; but even were it true, how can this Court, established by law for the express purpose of hearing and determining industrial disputes, |