H.—ll.

conditions of the factories are good, and with few exceptions the Act is well observed, and harmony appears to prevail between employers and employees. No prosecutions were recorded during the year. Shops and Shop-assistants Act. The provisions of this Act have been well complied with ; there have been no complaints and no trouble whatever. The Thursday half-holiday gives every satisfaction. Proceedings were instituted against two persons for breaches of this Act, and convictions were recorded in each case. Servants' Registry Offices. There are two licensed holders under the Act, who conduct their business in an honest and straightforward manner. Labour-market. Work was found through this bureau for 45 single men and 8 married men. The number of applicants during the past year was small in comparison with former years. There is an abundance of work in this district, with every prospect of this healthy state of things continuing for some time. The various trades are brisk, and there is no reason why any able-bodied man or boy should be idle. The building trade especially is brisk, and, although numerous dwellings have been constructed on all sides, the demand for houses cannot be supplied. Despite the losses which have resulted through the excessive rains, this district is in a very flourishing state. The harvest has been beyond the average, and the prices for South Canterbury's staple products, wheat and oats, are exceptional. Money is therefore freely circulated, and its beneficial effect is especially felt by the skilled and unskilled labourers. I have, &c, Robert Crawford, Inspector of Factories. Edward Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington.

OAMARU. Sir, — Inspector of Factories' Office, Oamaru, 31st March, 1902. I have the honour to submit for your information a report upon the working of the Factories Act and the Shops and Shop-assistants Act during the past year. Factories. Up to the present there are 46 factories and workrooms registered in good well-ventilated buildings, with every modern convenience for the comfort of the employees. I have visited the buildings as often as time would permit, and on all occasions found that they were well kept and ventilated. The woollen-factory, the principle one in my district, is well kept, and everything in connection with the building is exceptionally clean. I have pleasure in stating that I have found the provisions of the Act in every instance well observed. I have issued a fair number of overtime permits since I was appointed Inspector. M. Madden, J. Mackay, Esq., Labour Department, Wellington. Inspector.

INVERCARGILL. Sir, — Department of Labour, 31st March, 1902. I have the honour to submit my report of the working of this branch of the Department in this district for period ending the 31st March, 1902. Factories. The past fifteen months has been a most prosperous period. Every branch of the different industries has been very active, although, no doubt, the engineering trade has suffered much through the bursting-up of the dredging industry. Notwithstanding this, there still continues to be an increase in the number of factories registered in this district, and the persons employed. Last year there were 213 registered, as against 256 for the present period, an increase of 25, which is fairly distributed amongst the various industries, employing 1,828 males and 449 females, an increase of 440 hands for the period. Permits have been issued to 92 young persons—viz., 67 boys and 25 girls. Care has been taken to obtain the necessary certificates as to age and educational standard. One certificate has been issued to a boy as per section 25, being a special case. I am pleased to say I have had little difficulty in getting owners of factories and workrooms to give attention to cleanliness and sanitary arrangements of their places, and otherwise providing the necessary conveniences and comfort required by their employees. There have been twenty-five accidents reported and investigated during the period, the majority of them of a very slight nature, but there were a few of a more serious nature. One man got torn to pieces by his clothing getting in contact with the cog wheels of a pug-mill. Another was injured severely through the explosion of gas consequent upon putting a light near the opening of a digester just after removing the door of same. In another case a carpenter, when dressing a piece of timber, had his hand injured through coming in contact with the knives of a buzzer, taking three of his fingers and part of his hand off. Several accidents have occurred at sawmills in the district, such as getting fingers taken off by coining in contact with the circular

XXIII