H.—ll

10

Orepuki (1). —A lad employed at a flax-mill lost an eye through the bursting of the stripperdrum, a portion of which struck him. In all cases when accidents occur Inspectors visit and inquire minutely into the circumstances leading up to the accidents, to ascertain whether they are caused through defective or inadequately guarded machinery, or whether they are the result of misadventure on the part of the persons injured. And attention is given to see that necessary safeguards, &c, are provided and maintained in their proper position in order to reduce as low as possible the risk of accident to persons employed amongst machinery in factories.

LEGAL DECISIONS DUEING THE YEAE 1900-1. April, 1900. Auckland. —Two cases under the Factories Act: One for employing six females after 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon; penalty, ss. and 7s. costs on each charge, £3 12s. The other for employing six females after 6 o'clock p.m. without permit; penalty, ss. and 7s. costs on each charge, £3 12s. Palmerston North. —One case under the Factories Act, for failing to send to Inspector of Factories report of accident to employe at a flax-mill: penalty, £2, with 7s. costs. Dunedin. —One case (two charges) under the Shops and. Shop-assistants Act, for employing lad under eighteen years of age for longer than nine hours and a half in one day ; penalty, 10s. on each charge ; no costs. May, 1900. Auckland. —Two cases under the Factories Act: One for neglecting to keep bakehouse in a sanitary condition ; penalty, £1, with 9s. costs. The other for employing females after 1 o'clock on Saturday (twelve charges); penalty, ss. each charge, with 9s. costs. Napier. —Two cases under the Shops and Shop-assistants Act, for allowing employes to deliver goods on the half-holiday; penalty, £1, with 9s. costs in each case. Wanganui. —One case under the Shops and Shop-assistants Act, for failing to close shop on the half-holiday; penalty, £1, with 7s. costs. Another charge under section 5 was withdrawn. Wellington. —Two cases under the Factories Act: One for employing youth in bakery on Good Friday; penalty, Is., with lis. costs. The other for employing youth on Saturday afternoon; penalty, 10s., with 7s. costs. Christchurch. —Two cases under the Factories Act: One for failing to keep record of wages paid to employes, and the other for failing to pay the employes for statutory holidays ; penalty, £1, with 7s. costs, in each case. Dunedin. —Three cases under the Factories Act: Two for employing women and young persons under eighteen years of age on Saturday afternoon; penalty, 55., with 9s. costs, in each case. The third case, for failing to pay employes for a Saturday afternoon ; dismissed, as no penalty is provided in the Act for this breach. Three other cases were withdrawn. June, 1900. Gisborne. —One case under the Shops and Shop-assistants Act, for failing to close shop on half-holiday; penalty, 55., with 7s. costs. Dannevirke. —One case under the Factories Act, for failing to report to Inspector an accident to employe; penalty, 10s., with 19s. 6d. costs. One case under the Wages Protection Act, for deducting money from wages of employe for insurance premiums; penalty, 10s., with 17s. 6d. costs. Ormondville. —Two cases under the Wages Protection Act, for deducting money from wages of employes for insurance premiums ; penalty, 10s. and costs in each case. Dunedin. —One case under the Factories Act, for employing girl on Saturday afternoon ; penalty, £1, without costs. One case under the Shops and Shop-assistants Act, for employing a carter on half-holiday ; penalty, 10s. without costs. Invercargill. —One case under the Shops and Shop-assistants Act, for failing to allow barassistant the half-holiday; penalty, 55., with 7s. costs. One case under the Factories Act, for employing females on half-holiday ; and one case against the same person under the Employment of Boys or Girls without Wages Prevention Act. Both cases dismissed, the' Magistrate ruling that the girls were not employes, but were merely learning to make up their own material. July, 1900. Dargaville. —One case under the Factories Act, for failing to grant a statutory holiday to lad ; case dismissed, it being proved that the lad was. over eighteen years of age. Auckland.' —Two cases under the Shops Act: One for delivering goods on the half-holiday; penalty, £1, with £1 10s. costs. The other for employing lad under eighteen years for more than eleven hours and a half in one day; penalty, £1, with costs, 9s. Wanganui. —One case under the Shops Act, for failing to close shop on half-holiday ; penalty, 10s., with 7s. costs. Foxton. —One ease under the Factories Act, for failing to report accident in flax-mill; penalty, £1, with 7s. costs. One case under the Shops Act, for failing to give assistant the half-holiday; penalty, £1, with 7s. costs. Wellington. —One case under the Shops Act, for failing to grant half-holiday to bar-assistant in hotel; penalty, £1, with 13s. costs. Dunedin. —One case under the Employment of Boys or Girls without Wages Prevention Act, for receiving a premium from girl under eighteen years of age ; penalty, £1, with 7s. costs. Another charge for failing to pay wages (4s. a week) withdrawn. Invercargill. —One case under the Employers' Liability Act, in which a man sued his employers for £20 for injuries received through working with unprotected machinery; judgment was given for £12 10s., with £6 7s. costs.