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at the present time are difficult to find, as employees, as a rule, will not give information unless they are leaving the employer, and even then the information cannot always be acted upon. During the year 258 shops were registered, employing 707 persons—s42 males and -165 females. There were 129 overtime warrants issued to 112 persons, and the total overtime worked was 2,359 hours. Servants' Registry Offices Act. There are no servants' registry offices in this district, in consequence of which the Women's Employment Branch was established as a branch of the Department here. Shearers' Accommodation Act. There are 12 shearing-sheds in the Nelson district which come within the provisions of this Act. During the year 1 new accommodation-house has been built. At other sheds visited I found that alterations to buildings and sanitary matters, as requested in 1908, had been carried out. At the various stations visited I found all satisfactory. As a rule, meals are taken at the homestead. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Nothing of any importance has arisen during the year in respect to the administration of this Act. The provisions of the 1908 Act have had a beneficial effect, inasmuch as employers coming under an award now keep proper time and wage book. The copy of award being posted in factories and workrooms affected also does much to lessen the number of breaches. During the year visits have been paid to all employers upon whom awards are binding. Thirty complaints have been received from various persons, and have been inquired into. In l\ cases reported there was no breach of award ; the other 9 cases were taken before the Stipendiary Magistrate, and convictions were obtained in 8 of them, and 1 case was dismissed. Scaffolding Inspection Act. As Inspector of Scaffolding for the Nelson and Marlborough districts, I have made general inspection of buildings in the course of erection. (See separate report.) Men's Employment Branch. The year has been a very busy one for this branch. Fortunately the depression which existed during the early part of the year was not so acute in Nelson as in. the larger centres. Therefore; many men arriving from other parts of the Dominion were assisted to find employment, either on public works or with private employers. As the season advanced the depression lifted, and during the latter part of the year there has been little difficulty in finding employment for men willing to work in the country. ■ _ , . • -, During the year 156 men were assisted to work by the Department, of whom .38 were married, with 155 dependants. Women's Employment Branch. A women's employment branch was opened in January, 1910, and up to date good work has been done by this branch of the Department. The office filled a long-felt want, there being no registry office in the city. The duties in connection with this branch have entailed a considerable amount of extra work foi Miss Emerson, who has charge of the branch, in conjunction with the clerical work of the Department. A fair amount of correspondence is received from country people applying for servants, and a large number of calls are made by employers in the city. (For further particulars, ■see Miss Emerson's report.) [ h«we, & c • S. Tyson, The Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. Inspector in Charge. GREYMOUTH. oj ___ Department of Labour, Greymouth, 12th April, 1910. I have the honour to submit for your information a report on the work of the Department in the Greymouth district for the year ending 31st March, 1910. General. The period under review has been one of fairly satisfactory progress in most branches and departments of skilled trades, and it is gratifying to note that, generally speaking, the ultimate result for the period compares very favourably with former years. ~,.-, v v l f n,„ „„„ Engineering and iron trades have maintained a steady condition during the whole of the year Buildmo- trades have had a busy year. Many substantial and pretentious brick buildings have been erected, and the indication in. both town and country point to a Continuance of the present aCtlV The furniture trades are busy. There has been no lack of employment for reliable and competent 0t The tailoring clothing, and dressmaking trades have had ail they could do to meet the demands made upon them. A considerable amount of overtime has been worked, as will be seen Iron, the overtime returns.