[unclear: a] strikes illegal

[unclear: ime] Strike and Lock-[unclear: nergency] Regulations [unclear: in] October, 1939, made [unclear: ikes] illegal, whether were registered or [unclear: d] penalised strikers as [unclear: those] who encouraged [unclear: ted] others to strike.

The term "strike" was defined more broadly than ever before, to include any action intended to, or having a tendency to, interfere with the effective conduct of industry. Nevertheless, the official statistics show twice as many strikes and strikers in the last year of the war than there had been in the first year, and by the time these regulations were revoked, on 31 December 1951, New Zealand had passed through its most devastating industrial conflict.

In 1947 another amending Act provided that all strike proposals had to be submitted to a secret ballot—a rather curious piece of legislation, because strikes remained illegal, even if the ballot was carried. No immediate deterrent effect was evident, for the number of strikers rose steeply in the years after 1947.

During the 1951 waterfront dispute the Government proclaimed a state of emergency under the Public Safety Conservation Act, and issued stringent emergency regulations which included even a refusal or failure to work overtime by any number of workers among the definitions of a strike. They also made union officials individually responsible for strike action by their members, and made the union responsible for offences committed by their officials.

Once the dispute had ended, these regulations were revoked, but their place was taken by new amendments to the Arbitration Act which again considerably increased the penalties for striking and widened the definition of a strike. Other amendments to the Police Offences Act put new obstacles in the way of union activities, such as processions, demonstrations, or the display of posters, banners or badges in support of a strike.

The Waterfront Industry Act of 1953 extended the penal provisions of the Arbitration Act to unions on the waterfront.