H.—ll

4

of service being considerably over two years ago—viz., the twelve months prior to November, 1910—considerable trouble and time have been expended in dealing with these applications. Employment Bureau. Work has been fairly plentiful. There has not been very much Government work offering, but the local authorities have kept a very large number of labourers employed. Farm hands were, as usual, in great demand during a part of the year. Applications for "work through this office were principally from unskilled labourers; some, of course, were not of the best class, and it was often difficult to place them. Many applications have been received from men unable to do hard work, and desiring clerical work or other employment of a like nature instead. It is only rarely that we have been able to place this class of worker. Conclusion. In conclusion, I have to express my sincere appreciation to all the members of the staff of their conscientious work whilst I have been in charge; also to the police officers and others acting as local Inspectors in the country districts, who have always been ready and willing to forward the departmental work, both during office-hours or after them. I also desire to report that the work of the Inspectors has been greatly lightened by the reasonable manner in which employers have carried out any directions given by the Department. I have, &c, W. Newton, Inspector of Factories. The Secretary of Labour and Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. WELLINGTON. Sir, — , Department of Labour, Wellington, 21st April, 1913. I havo the honour to submit for your information my report for the year ending the 31st March, 1913. General. During the period under review the employment of all classes of workers has been generally up to expectations. Taking the manufacturing trades in their alphabetical order, it can be stated that the bootmaking industry has provided practically full-time employment for all workers, the overtime worked being slightly in excess of that of last year. Cabinetmakers have also had a good year; whilst females employed in dress and millinery workrooms have been exceptionally busy. Laundries have also experienced a very busy time, and workers have been in constant demand. The printing and allied trades have furnished fairly constant employment to the workers engaged therein. Shirt and underclothing factories continue to complain of shortage of hands. Tailoring, so far as bespoke trade is concerned, has been faixly busy, notwithstanding the increased output of ready-made suits, whilst the factories engaged in the manufacture of box and chart order clothing have been exceptionally active, and employers are still in need of workers, especially machinists and female apprentices. Woollen-milling has been so busy this year as to require overtime to be worked to twice the extent of that of last year —viz., 7,848 hours as against 3,707 hours for 1912. The shortage of boy and girl labour is said by many employers to be a serious menace to the advancement of the manufacturing industries. The building trades have been steady; the erection of the General Post Office, several theatres, banks, business premises, and other work have provided employment for all workers engaged in the industry. On different occasions during the year there was a considerable demand for plasterers, and carpenters were also in fair demand, while painters had practically no slack time. The Factories Act. During the year there were 1,186 factories registered, being an increase of 9 as compared with last year. Certificates of fitness to work in factories were granted to young persons under the age of sixteen years as follow : To 118 boys and 322 girls, a total of 440, as against 163 to boys and 251 to girls last year. The falling-off in the number of boys applying for certificates is especially significant. Overtime amounting to 61,249 hours was worked in factories by 2,014 boys and females, and this shows an increase of 2,378 hours over that of last j*ear. The accidents reported numbered 97, as against 141 for the previous year. Of these accidents, 85 proved to be of a minor nature, resulting in slight cuts and bruises, &c, 9 resulted in loss of joints of fingers, 1 in severance of left hand, and 2 were fatal, one man being crushed in a lift which he was using contrary to instructions, whilst the other worker had his clothing caught in moving machinery and was carried round, eventually dying from the injuries so received. There has been but little difficulty experienced in the carrying-out of the provisions of this Act, and it is specially pleasing to report that no cases have been taken before the Court. All factories have been visited and inspected, and strict compliance with the provisions of the Act has been required from all occupiers, and especially where food is prepared for human con-