9

H.—ll

Four cases were taken against employers for* failing to keep a wages and overtime book Decisions m favour of the Department were given in all cases. Penalties, amounting to £2 15s and costs, were imposed. Permits to Under-rate Workers. The provisions is some of the awards making it compulsory for applicants to serve five years at the trade before they are entitled to an under-rate worker's permit has restricted the number of applicants for permits. Some of those issued were to old men, and the issue of permits in these cases will no doubt be a recurring one. Seventeen such permits were issued by the Department. J r Workers' Compensation Act. Since this Act has become better known greater interest has been taken in the procedure for the recovery of compensation. The Amendment Act of 1911, making provision that agreements for the settlement of compensation claims for permanent injuries must be approved by either a Magistrate or an Inspector of Factories before the settlement becomes binding, has caused employers and employees to make careful inquiries at this Department as to the amount of compensation payable or claimable. Advice has been given to hundreds of inquirers. This amendment of the Workers' Compensation Act has considerably increased, the work of the office, but has given general satisfaction to those affected. The following is a list of the settlements of compensation for permanent injuries which were approved : — Total Compensation. £ s. d. Loss of sight of left eye ... ... ... ... ... 85 14 4 Loss of part of middle finger of left hand ... ... ... 32 310 Loss of thumb and forefinger ... ... ... 176 8 0 Left leg fractured ... ... ... ... ... ... 150 0 0 Muscles of arm ruptured ... ... ... ... 70 0 0 'Sinews of forefinger cut ... ... ... ... 60 0 0 Injur;\' to chest through being run over by cart ... . .. 12 0 0 Fnjurv to forefinger by knife cut ... ... ... ... 71 0 9 Loss of joint of middle finger . ... ... ... ... 34 18 9 Right foot crushed and small toe amputated ... ... ... 160 17 4 Injury to left arm through falling off a building ... . 84 18 9 injury to head through horse pulling back ... ... 800 Loss of two joints of finger ... ... ... ... ..'. 45 16 0 Loss of forefinger of left hand ... ... ... ... 45 3 0 Loss of three fingers and one joint of finger ... ... ... 1.79 10 7 Injury to left leg ... '... ..." ... ... ... 19 15 4 Loss of end of middle finger ... ... ... ... ... 17 4 3 Loss of four fingers and part of palm of right hand ... ... 192 2 0 Loss of four fingers and knuckles of left hand ... ... ... 250 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... £1,695 12 11 Workers' Dwellings Act. Workers are realizing the benefits to be derived under this Act, and many of those holding long leases of dwellings have decided to purchase them under the system inaugurated by the Act of 1910. In a few other cases where the leases have lapsed, and the dwellings are in occupation of monthly tenants, the latter have also availed themselves of the provisions in the Act, and are purchasing them on the system therein laid down. Six new- dwellings have been erected at Addington during the period under review, thereby using up all the available land at Sydenham and Addington. The whole of the supervision of the dwellings erected has been carried out by Mr. Stringer, the Scaffolding Inspector, acting as clerk of works, with very satisfactory results. A small block of land has been recently purchased at North-east St. Albans, and a number of the sections have already been applied for. There are now 51 dwellings in this city, either in occupation by leaseholders or on monthly tenancy, or by purchasers under the new system. The work in connection with the reletting of unoccupied dwellings, and the attention and supervision given to repairs, &c, has been heavy. My statutory duty as a member of the Workers' Dwellings Board for this district has necessitated visits being made to Ashburton, Timaru, and other districts for the inspection of land offered to the Government for workers' dwellings, and the proposal to extend the operation of the Act to the country districts will probably have the effect of improving the lot of the country worker, will provide him with a home with all conveniences, and put him on a footing with the town worker. Barmaids Registration Act. In consequence of the above amendment many additional applications have been made by barmaids for certificates of registration. Careful investigations as to period of previous service and character have been made in all cases. Women's Employment Branch. This branch has been of great service to employers and employees in this district, and has succeeded in placing all suitable applicants for employment. The same difficulty as last year

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