37

H.—ll

The number of accidents reported was eight, two of which resulted fatally. The remaining six were moderately serious. Shops and Offices Act. —A visit of inspection has been made during the last six months to vxcrx shop in the district. While the Act was found to be receiving fair compliance in the majority of cases, several breaches were discovered, and nine prosecutions have been necessary. A conviction was secured in each instance. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. —A number of new awards coming into operation within the past five or six months has somewhat increased the work in connection with this Act. It has not been considered necessary to proceed against any employers, as all the breaches committed have been the outcome either of ignorance of the law or of excusable doubt on the part of the offenders. Men's Employment Branch. —The very bright state of trade and employment conditions prevailing in Oamaru during the past twelve months has been responsible for the small number of applications for employment. All applicants were speedily suited. Invercargill. The Inspector-iu-charge (Mr. 11. B. Bower) reports: — General. —Agricultural and dairying operations were considerably interfered with by serious Hoods which inundated large areas of this district in the autumn and early winter of 1913. Fortunately, however, a fine spring and summer followed and the district made a good recovery. The strike, too, had a bad effect on most of the manufacturing industries. The building trades experienced some slackness during the winter and early spring, but became more active during the summer months, and are at present very busy. Sawmilling has been quiet, and the engineeringtrades have not been so busy as usual. The boot trade has been very quiet, but tailoring, dressmaking, and millinery have all maintained a fair standard of trade. Factories Act. —Breaches of this Act are less frequent as the parties concerned become more conversant with its provisions, and it was not found necessary to take any prosecutions during the year. There were seventeen accidents reported, none of which was serious. Shops and Offices Act. —This Act has worked very smoothly, and it has not been necessary to prosecute in any instance. The recent amendments providing for heating-appliances and specifying that seating-accommodation shall be provided for each female assistant in shops are being readily complied with by shopkeepers, and have caused much satisfaction to employees. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. —Work under the Act continues to increase, and awards are now in operation covering almost every trade and industry carried on in the district. Inspection has been regularly carried out, and during the year a special visit was made to the goldfields where the dredges were at work. It was found that the provisions of the award were being carried out. Visits were also paid to sawmills and a number of shearingsheds; disputes were inquired into and errors rectified. Twelve persons were proceeded against during the year for breaches of the Act and awards; six of the prosecutions against members of a gold-dredge crew were taken under the strike provisions of the Act : in five cases fines were imposed, and the sixth was dismissed for want of proof of offence. The remaining prosecutions were for breaches of various awards. Servants' Registry Offices Act. —There are seven pet sons holding licenses under the Act in Invercargill, all of whom have complied with the Act. Men's Employment Branch.- —The number of men seeking employment was comparatively small, and more than half of them were assisted to employment almost immediately after making their applications. •i