H.—ll

11

Upper Hutt (2). —Man employed at sawmill lost three fingers through bringing them in contact with circular saw. Man employed in bush in connection with sawmill was struck on the arm by an iron dog flying out of a log, and incapacitated from work for several weeks. Waipaiua (2). —Man employed at sawmill dropped a timber-jack on to his foot, severely cutting and bruising it. Man employed at sawmill lost top of finger in circular saw. Wanganui (2). —Man employed by Meat Company was crushed between a railway-wagon and the staging. Youth employed at sash and door factory had finger torn with bit of boring-machine. Whangarei (5). —None serious. Wellington (137 — 2 fatal, 11 serious). —Carpenter engaged in demolishing an old building fell from the roof and was killed : Man employed at a foundry was passing a large dryer-cylinder that was suspended by a chain sling, when the chain broke and the man was caught and killed instantly : Verdict of " Accidental death " was returned at the inquest held in each case. Apprentice employed in a foundry had two fingers caught in the bevel wheels of a drilling-machine. Man employed at a foundry had his foot badly burned with molten metal. Girl employed in a card-board-box factory lost her left thumb in riveting-machine. Youth employed in a joinery-factory lost thumb of right hand in circular saw. Girl employed at a clothing-factory had her right arm broken through interfering with the machinery. Youth employed at joinery-factory lost part of thumb of left hand in knives of planing-machine. Boy employed at a boot-factory had his fingers crushed in a press. Man employed at a printing-office had his right hand crushed in a machine. Man employed at a joinery-factory lost two fingers in a circular saw. Pattern-maker lost two fingers of left hand through contact with knives of surface-planer. Man employed at a grain-mill received serious injuries through being caught in the driving-shaft. The remaining cases were of a slight nature incidental to factory-work where machinery is employed, and necessitating a few days' absence from work.

LEGAL DECISIONS DUEING THE YEAE 1903-4. Apeil, 1903. Wanganui. —One case under the Shops Act, for not allowing shop-assistant a half-holiday for weeks ending the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th March ; penalty £2, with £1 10s. 6d costs. Napier. —One case under " The Factories Act, 1901," for breach of subsection (2) of section 33 ; penalty £1 10s., with £3 17s. costs. Christchurch. —One case under "The Factories Act, 1901," section 22, and section 2 of Amendment Act, 1902, for working girls overtime without permit; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. May, 1903. Christchurch. —One case under section 26 of the Factories Act, for working a girl aged fourteen, who had only passed Standard 111., without a certificate; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. One case, against same persons, for failing to register their premises until the 27th April, 1903; penalty Is., with 7s. costs. One case under section 26 of the Factories Act, for employing boy fifteen years of age without a certificate; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. In another charge, under section 33, against same person the defendant was convicted without fine, the Magistrate taking into consideration the fine imposed in the first charge. One case under the Shops Act, for breach of section 5 ; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. One case under the Factories Act, section 19, subsection (c), and subsection (2) of section 33; case dismissed. Dunedin. —One case under the Shops Act (Chinaman), for failing to close on half-holiday ; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. June, 1903. Aratapu. —Three cases under the Factories Act, for failing to report accidents. In two cases defendants were convicted and fined 10s. and costs. The third case was dismissed, as the employee injured had returned to work within forty-eight hours of the accident. July, 1903. Christchurch. —Two cases under section 5 of the Shops Act, for employing assistants on the half-holiday ; defendants fined ss. and Is. respectively and costs (7s. each). One case under the Factories Act, for employing four young women (tailoresses) for five hours continuously on the Saturday half-holiday ; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. Dunedin. —One case under the Shops Act, for failing to close on the statutory half-holiday. The Magistrate dismissed the case, holding that there was no proof that the shop was open for business purposes. August, 1903. Auckland. —Two charges for breaches of the Shops Act were brought against a baker—first, for employing an assistant after one o'clock on the half-holiday; and, second, for failing to close his shop on the same day. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s. and costs on the first charge, and Is. and costs on the second. Septembee, 1903. Timaru. —Messrs. Guinness and Le Cren, auctioneers, were summoned by the Inspector of Factories for committing a breach of section 5 of " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894," by not giving all their employees a half-holiday on the day fixed for the purpose. The Magistrate convicted defendants, and a penalty of ss. was imposed, with £1 Bs. costs. Wellington. —Mr. H. Hurrell, manager of the Eouse and Hurrell Company (Limited), was fined the sum of 55., and 7s. costs, for a breach of section 31 of " The Factories Act, 1901," by employing a boy without payment. Defendant admitted the offence, and also agreed to pay ss.