XXI. & XXII.—Trade Disputes.

These two Charts relate to Trade Disputes causing stoppage of work, i.e., Strikes and Lock-outs. The first classifies the numbers directly affected, according to trade, cause and result. The second shows for each of the years 1894-1905 the number of workpeople directly and indirectly affected by the disputes, and the aggregate duration of the disputes in working days.

During the period covered the industry most affected by disputes has been Coal Mining. The disputes of greatest magnitude were the Scottish Coal Miners' dispute of 1894; the Engineers' dispute of 1897-8, and the South Wales Coal Miners' dispute of 1898. The principal causes of disputes have been questions relating to wages.