H.—ll.

Servants' Registry Offices Act. There are no servants' registry-offices in this district. Shearers' Accommodation Act. There are eight shearing-sheds in the district, and the accommodation for shearers, with the exception of 2 cases, is satisfactory. In one case a new accommodation-house is to be built; in the other sanitary arrangements are to be provided. These alterations will no doubt be made before shearing again commences. At the various stations visited I found everything very clean, and, as a rule, meals being taken at the homestead. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The various awards may be said to be working smoothly in the district. During the year, however, a considerable amount of work has been required to keep employers up to their respective awards. Copies of the respective awards have been supplied to employers. This should relieve the work somewhat, and do away with any excuse for failing to comply with the terms of award, which so often has been made in the past by employers. During the year, under the new provisions of the Act, 3 cases were brought before the Stipendiary Magistrate, and conviction obtained in each case. Scaffolding Inspection Act. As Inspector of Scaffolding for the Nelson, Westland, and Marlborough districts, as well as of Factories, Awards, &c, for the Nelson district, I have made a general inspection of buildings in course of erection. (For report on scaffolding see Reports from Inspectors of Scaffolding.) I have, &c, S. Tyson, The Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. Inspector of Factories.

GREYMOUTH. Sir, — Department of Labour, Grey mouth, 9th April, 1909. I have the honour to submit, for your consideration, my annual report on the working of the Greymouth Branch of the Department of Labour for the year ending 31st March, 1909. It is pleasing to be able to record that the period under review has been a prosperous one, notwithstanding some labour troubles that occurred in connection with the coal-mining at Blackball and quartz-mining at Reefton. The building trade was very active during the greater portion of the year, many residential and business premises having been erected ; the latter being in brick, kept bricklayers and plasterers fairly well employed, as also were the brickmaking hands. Carpentry and joinery trades were fairly busy. Plumbers, gasfitters, painters, and tinsmiths were very busy up to the close of 1908. Since then a general depression, which is having the effect of restricting operations in the building trade, has overshadowed the commercial community. The engineering trade was steady and brisk during the whole year. The tailoring, dressmaking, and millinery trades were also busy throughout the year. The coachbuilding trade was busy all the year round, and cabinetmaking and upholstery trades were very good. The retail trade was very fair, but in some lines, notably clothing, drapery, &c, not quite so good as last year. The Factories Act. During the year 143 factories were registered, employing 792 persons—namely, 650 males and 142 females. The workrooms where many of the young persons are employed are spacious and well ventilated, and are kept clean. The Act was very well observed by the employers, who have always endeavoured to comply with its provisions, and cause as little friction as possible. Overtime was worked by 80 males over sixteen years of age, who worked 8,053 hours ; and by 93 females, who worked 4,358 hours : total number of persons, 173, and hours worked 12,411. Permits were issued for 14 young persons to work in factories—namely, 10 boys and 4 girls. Six accidents were reported during the year, the most serious of which resulted in the loss of two fingers by a planing-machine. The others were chiefly cuts and contusions, all of which may be attributed to negligence on the part of the workers. In no case was defective machinery the cause of the mishap. The Shops and Offices Act. During the year there were 160 shops on the register. Overtime warrants were issued for 4 males, who worked 126 hours. Three shopkeepers were prosecuted for failing to close their shops on the statutory closing-day ; in each case a penalty was inflicted. The sanitary conditions of factories and shops are improving gradually as new premises are being constructed and old ones renovated.

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