H.—ll.

XXXVIII

kept, a worker sometimes alleges that he has worked in excess of what is recorded ; but these complaints are often made after the worker has left his employment. This, I think, should be regulated by a provision insisting that unless payment for overtime is demanded at the next ensuing pay-day no claim should be countenanced. During the year no less than 572 separate investigations of alleged breaches of awards and agreements were made—l6B were independent inquiries, and 404 were made in consequence of complaints referred to us. In 356 cases it was found that no breach existed. Of the balance 180 cases were settled out of Court, and a total sum of £302 oj. lOd. recovered and disbursed to workers ; 36 cases were taken to the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, resulting in 32 convictions, 3 dismissals, and 1 withdrawal: total penalties, £57 3s. 4d. Only one case calls for comment. This was a strike of shearers in a shed at Queenstown, seven men demanding payment above the award rates, and, on being refused, leaving their work. A fine of £5 was inflicted on each defendant. During the year several troubles in the coal-mining industry arose, and we were called upon to intervene. Fortunately our efforts to conciliate were effective, and more serious trouble was thereby avoided. Servants' Registry Offices Act. There has been no complaint in respect of any breach of the Act. Registry-office keepers are now fully conversant with its provisions. Thirteen licenses are in existence here, the same number as issued last year. Scaffolding Inspection Act. In the city the value of property erected was £172,346, comprising 130 wooden buildings, 56 brick buildings and warehouses, and 226 alterations and additions. Besides the supervision of scaffoldingwork on these erections inspection has been made in the country towns extending- from Oamaru to Invercargill. A separate detailed report is given by Mr. Barton, Inspector of Scaffolding. In addition to the scaffolding duties, this officer also acts occasionally as Inspector of Factories, in which capacity he is very useful to us. Shearers' Accommodation Act. The general inspection made in 1907-8 of the quarters provided for shearers has evidently been effective, as during the recent shearing-season not one complaint reached us. Ido not anticipate that it will be necessary to make any general investigation before next season's shearing. Workers' Compensation Act. We are often approached for advice by claimants for compensation under this Act. Settlements effected are frequently submitted to us for our opinion. To prevent inequitable settlements this reference should perhaps be made compulsory. I also submit that where an injured worker is required by his employer to furnish a medical certificate the cost of such certificate should be recoverable from the employer. General. During the year there has been a considerable expansion of the Department and corresponding increase of the work in this office. This has been met by a very willing response from the officers of the staff, and I have to thank them for their valuable assistance in overcoming the year's strenuous work. In conclusion, I would like to record my appreciation of the ready assistance rendered to us by the City Council, Drainage Board, and Harbour Board by providing work for the unemployed, and to thank the Mayor (J. H. Walker, Esq.) and the officers of those local bodies for the courtesy invariably extended to me in my negotiations with them. I have, &c, E. Le Cren, Inspector in Charge. The Chief Inspector of Factories, Department of Labour, Wellington.

GISBORNE. Sir, — Department of Labour, Gisborne, 22nd April, 1910. I have the honour to submit for your consideration an annual report of the Department's work in the Gisborne district during the year ending the 31st March, 1910. I am pleased to report that since taking charge of this office on the Ist August the general trade conditions have improved, from actual stagnation to somewhat near normal. For the last three months the only " unemployed " have been men coming from other districts with the hope of getting employment on the Government co-operative works at Otoko. During the period 94 men have been placed in private employment and 53 men on the co-operative railway-construction works at Otoko. A total of 290 men applied for employment. In the past the Gisborne district has depended almost entirely on dairying and sheep-farming, both climate and soil being admirably suited for these pursuits. For the past year the principal exports from the port of Gisborne — i.e., wool, frozen meat, hides, tallow, butter, and cheese —have totalled in value £1,130,623. This means a very large production per head of the population. There are indications that the future will see development in other directions—for example, 5,253,203 sup. ft. of timber, 40,741 post-strainers, and 10,751 lineal feet of house-blocks were imported between the Ist January and the 31st December, 1909. Considering that the district contains some of