FT. --11

6

were dismissed on account of insufficient or contradictory evidence, whilst 1 was dismissed as an excusable breach. In 2 cases defendants appealed to the Arbitration Court, which dismissed the appeal in both instances. Proceedings were also taken against employers in 10 cases for failing to keep a wages and overtime book under section 58 of the Amendment Act. Convictions were obtained in each instance, and fines amounting to £11 imposed. One employer was prosecuted for making wilfully false entries in wages and overtime book, and a conviction was obtained and a fine of £3 imposed. A case taken during the previous year against an industrial union of workers for instigating and aiding an unlawful strike was appealed against by defendants during the period under review. The Arbitration Court upheld the appeal, reversing the Magistrate's decision by which the union was convicted and fined £100 and when the case was referred back to the Magistrate he accordingly dismissed it. The following is a tabulated statement showing number of cases for breaches of awards and agreements taken before the Court, with details of the offences: — Against employers— Failing to pay the minimum wage ... ... ... .. ... 27 Failing to pay overtime rates ... ... ... .. ... 2 Failing to pay travelling time ... ... ... .. 1 Failing to give preference to unionists ... .. ... ... ... 9 Failing to pay wages weekly ... ... ... .. . . ...13 Failing to provide sanitary conveniences for use of workmen .. ... 2 Failing to employ a stableman in stables where more than fourteen horses were used 1 Failing to notify Inspector of employment of apprentice ... ... ... 3 Failing to employ a trimmer on Sunday morning shift... ... ... ... 1 Employing a fireman at other work than attending to steam, water, and stokehold machinery ... ..." ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Employing a driver in excess of weekly limit of hours prescribed ... ... 1 Employing a carter in the bakehouse ... ... ... ... ... 1 Employing a boy casually ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Employing more than the proportion of assistants to journeymen ... ... I Employing a youth under eighteen to drive a,horse ... - ... ... ... 1 Having work done on the "team system" ... ... ... ... ... 2 Having bespoke work done on other than own premises ... ... ... 2 Making deductions from weekly wages ... ... ... ... ... I I'otal ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 71 Ag-ainst workers — Failing to claim, minimum wage ... ... ... ... ... ... 1.0 Failing to claim overtime rates ... ... ... ... 3 Failing to join the union ... ... ... 1 Failing to complete apprenticeship ... 1 Total ... ... ... .. ... 15 Grand total ... ... ... ... ... 86 Under-rate workers' permits have been granted under the following awards —viz., carpenters 4, and tailor-esses 1; whilst 2 applications were refused. Very few workers have apparently found it necessary to take advantage of the " underrate" clause in the various awards, and, as a rule,'the unions concerned in the cases above mentioned were in accord with the Department's action. I have, <fee, D. Carmody, Inspector of Factories. The Secretary of Labour and Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. CHRISTCHURCH. j4 ih> . Department of Labour, Christchurch, 15th April, 1913. I beg to submit my report on. the administration and the working of the various labour laws, awards, industrial agreements, and other work of the Department in this district for the year ending 31st March, 1913. The year just closed has been well up to former years in volume of business done, in goods manufactured, and in matters pertaining to the welfare of the workers in this district. The recent strike of the slaughtermen at the different freezing-works in the Canterbury District, however, caused a cessation of work in these factories for some considerable time, and resulted in a loss of wages to the strikers and to many other workers in allied trades. The difficulties were eventually tided over, and at the present time the works are in full operation. In all other respects the year just passed has been a very successful one. Many retailers report a steady increase in their annual takings. Workers in the various manufacturing trades have had fairly good employment, have been nearly constantly employed, and in no trade has there been a slump.