H.—ll

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raising the fees chargeable to servants in the higher grades. The following is the scale of fees now in force : — ,-, „ , Fees payable by tor every engagement actually made,— Servant, Employer. Single engagements — s. d. b. d. Where weekly rate of wages does not exceed ss. (and board and lodging) 10 2 0 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds ss. but does not exceed 10s. (and board and lodging) .. .. .. .. .. ..10 20 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds 10s. but does not exceed 15s. (and board and lodging) .. .. .. .. .. ..20 40 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds 15s. but does not exceed £1 (and board and lodging) .. .. .. .. .. ..26 50 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds £1 hut does not exceed £2 (and board and lodging) .. .. .. .. .. ..30 60 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds £2 (and board and lodging) .. 3 6 7 0 Married couples — Where weekly rate of wages does not exceed £1 (and board and lodging) 3 0 6 0 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds £1 but does not exceed £2 (and board and lodging) .. .. .. .. .. ..36 70 Where weekly rate of wages exceeds £2 (and board and lodging) ..40 80 In the case of country engagements, meaning thereby those which are for places situate more than three miles from the license-holder's office, the following additional fees shall be payable : — Single engagements— Where the weekly rate does not exceed 10s. (and board and lodging) 0 6 10 Where the weekly rate of wages exceeds 10s. (and board and lodging) 10 2 0 Married couples— In every case .. .. .. .. .. ..16 30 Prosecutions. There were three prosecutions under the Act during the year —viz., one for failing to keep a book of engagements, and two for charging more than the prescribed fees. Suggested Amendments to Act. This Act has been in operation unaltered by amendment since it was passed in 1895, and experience has shown that in the interests of all parties a revision of the same is desirable. Complaints are, for example, made to the Department that servants have been engaged through registry-office keepers for employment even at a distance when no such work exists. In some instances this has, it is suggested, been caused through advertisements for workers not having been withdrawn when the positions mentioned have been filled; in other cases, after engagements are completed, disputes sometimes arise as to the precise nature of the engagements. It is suggested that it would aid the parties concerned in the settlement of such disputes if it were made compulsory for the registry-office keepers, before engaging servants, to set out the particulars of the positions in writing on a prescribed form, the forms to be signed by the workers on the one hand and by the registry-office keepers and, where possible, the employers on the other; and further, if some provision were made under which action could be taken for failure by any party to comply with the agreement thus entered into by him. LICENSING AMENDMENT ACT, 1910, AND BARMAIDS REGISTRATION ACT, 1912. By the latter Act the time within which applications for the registration of barmaids could be received was extended by one year (to Ist June, 1913). 316 additional applications for registration were received ; in each case the usual careful inquiries were made to ascertain whether the applicant had been employed as a barmaid for the period required by the Licensing Amendment Act (three months during the year ending 21st November, 1910). Of these applicants, 197 were registered and 119 were refused registration. The total number of applications for registration under both Acts was 1,518, and the total number of barmaids registered was 1,269. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. This subject is fully dealt with, as required by the Workers' Dwellings Act, in a separate statement for presentation to Parliament. In order that this report upon the operations of the Department may be complete, the Workers' Dwellings Report will be attached hereto as an appendix (B).