XII

H—ll

During the year 39 certificates of fitness have been issued to young persons under sixteen to work in factories—viz., 18 males and 21 females. Overtime is still on the increase in so far as boys under sixteen and women are concerned. For the period just ended, 229 females and boys under sixteen worked 7,963 hours —an increase of 3,523 hours. Inquiries have been made and reports forwarded in respect to 55 accidents. Fortunately only one was of a serious nature, whereby a young girl had her left hand caught in the rollers of a collar-mangle, which has caused her to lose the use of the hand. There have been 2 prosecutions in Napier under this Act during the year, besides 5 in the country towns. In each case the decision was in favour of the Department. The fines inflicted amounted to £8, with costs £3 4s. 9d. The total number of cases settled out of Court have been 111 ; arrears of wages recovered and paid to workers have been £10 4s. Shops and Offices Act. The number of shops in this district is 315. The amount of overtime worked in shops shows a decided falling-off as compared with last year —99 males worked 2,392 hours, and 59 females worked 399 hours, making a total of 2,791 hours. There have been 30 prosecutions under this Act—29 convictions and 1 case dismissed. The total fines inflicted amounting to £49 10s., and costs £9 18s. 9d. The principal offences were for failing to close in accordance with terms of various requisitions from shopkeepers fixing their own closinghours. Of the above prosecutions, 7 cases were heard in Napier, 13 in Hastings, 4in Dannevirke, 2 in Waipawa, and 3 in Wairoa. Taking into consideration the scattered area over which the above cases are spread, it can be said that this Act has worked smoothly throughout the district; and now that shopkeepers understand that they must observe the terms of their " requisition " fixing the closing-hours by a majority vote, I do not anticipate many further cases in this direction. Once again I must refer to the necessity of provision being made in this Act to make it compulsory for shopkeepers to keep wages and overtime books ; otherwise the Inspector's work is not as satisfactory as it should be. Servants' Registry Offices Act. There are 4 offices registered in this town, the same number as last year; and lam pleased to report that they are all well conducted, no complaints of any kind having reached this office. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The amendment passed in 1908 providing that cases of alleged breaches of awards may be heard before a Magistrate has, as far as this district is concerned, proved a great improvement on the former method, and the delays that were the disappointing feature previously have now entirely disappeared, and cases are heard immediately they are discovered. The provisions compelling employers bound by awards to keep wages and overtime books is of great assistance to Inspectors when investigating various reported complaints. There were 284 complaints of breaches of awards and industrial agreements inquired into during the year, of which 66 were settled without the aid of the Court. The total of £56 os. Bd. back wages has been collected during the period and paid to the respective workers. In 59 cases it was found that no breach had occurred ; 112 cases were referred to the Court and disposed of ; and in the remaining 47 cases instructions have been received to file citation. Of the 112 cases dealt with by the Court, 8 cases were dismissed. In the 104 convictions the fines amounted to £210 16s. Full particulars of cases appear in the Book of Awards. Shearers' Accommodation Act. The accommodation for shearers throughout this district is, with but few exceptions, of a satisfactory nature. Necessary alterations and improvements are being attended to, and in a few cases new accommodation is being provided, so that everything may be in readiness for next season. In some instances plans of accommodation have been submitted to this office for approval. Wages Protection and Contractors' Liens Act. It does not seem to be generally known by workers that, except where there is special provision to the contrary, as in the Factories and Shops Acts, and in the absence of an agreement in writing, the entire amount of wages earned by and payable to any worker shall be paid to such worker at intervals of not more than one week. During the year it has been found necessary to bring one case before the Magistrate in order that employers should know the obligations imposed upon them under this Act, when a£s penalty was inflicted. This case was against a flaxmiller. Under Part II of the same Act a case was brought against an employer for trucking with his workers, and he was fined £1, with costs 7s. Labour. During the greater part of the year, owing to the general slackness, the number of applicants for employment greatly exceeded the local demand. During the year 192 applications were made for employment, and of this number 108 were assisted, with 122 persons depending on them ; 96 were sent to private employment, and 12 to Government works.

vi—H. 11.