H—ll

was caused to the public through this lengthy close-down period, and it was found generally that, except for the closing for a lengthy period of a number of restaurants and tea-rooms in some of the larger towns, little inconvenience was caused. The majority of the establishments throughout the Dominion observing a close-down holiday period over Christmas and New Year are engaged in manufacturing industries, and it is recognized that such a practice affords an opportunity for a general clean up of the premises and an overhaul of the machinery and plant. The public are more or less unaffected by the closing-down of these industries. It is where undertakings of a public utility nature close down for a substantial period that inconvenience results. It is thought, however, that many businesses observe a close-down period as a means of relief from staff and rationing difficulties and that when conditions improve the tendency will be for them to allow the annual holidays on a roster system. Special attention was paid by officers of the Department to the requirements of the Act providing for the affixing of stamps to workers' holiday cards. From a survey of the position it appears that this requirement is generally becoming more readily complied, with and that workers realize the purpose of the holiday cards —namely, to place the casual worker in as favourable a position in regard to annual holiday pay as the permanent worker, who is granted his annual holiday on full pay. Holiday cards are redeemable at any money-order office after the expiration of one year from the commencement of the earliest period of employment entered on the card, unless the paying office is satisfied — (a) That the worker is leaving New Zealand and will be absent from New Zealand until after the expiration of that period of one year ; or (b) That the worker has died and the person surrendering the holiday card is entitled to claim payment on behalf of the worker's estate or dependants.

The following table shows the number of holiday cards surrendered and the amount paid out by the Post and Telegraph Department up to 31st March, 1946 :

There were. 24 prosecutions during the year. Convictions were obtained in 13 cases, 2 were dismissed, 5 withdrawn, and 4 otherwise disposed of. The total amount of fines was £4O. Three cases were taken on behalf of workers by way of civil proceedings for recovery of holiday pay. In 2 cases judgment was in favour of the plaintiff and in 1 case in favour of the defendant. The amount of holiday pay involved was £l7 12s. Bd. Eight hundred and twenty-two complaints were received, resulting in 453 warnings, while warnings were given in 255 cases of infringement discovered by Inspectors. Amendment to Annual Holidays Act, 1944 The Annual Holidays Amendment Act, 1945, applied the principal Act to industrial-life-assurance agents, made it obligatory on an employer to give to a worker not less than seven days' notice of the date on which the worker was to begin any annual holiday, and also to pay to the worker before commencement of the holiday the ordinary pay for the period of the holiday ; made provision for the redemption of stamps on holiday cards

18

Month. Number of Transactions per Month. Amount paid out per Month. 1945 £ 8. d. August 3,653 7,804 13 7 September . 2,812 5,160 14 7 October 2,518 5,097 14 5 November . 2.651 5,102 14 0 December . 1946 3,452 5,977 6 9 January 3,456 5,544 8 8 February . 2,905 3,697 13 4 March 2,452 3,692 19 8 23,899 42,078 5 0