H—ll

the Wellington district. There were, at 31st July, 1946, fifty-six women outworkers licensed in this district. During the four months ending 31st July, 1946, the earnings of these women were distributed as follows :

All the five earning less than £lO over the period had family incomes (apart from what was derived from outwork) in excess of £5 10s. a week. All had two or more children in respect of whom they received family allowance, not included in the family income above. Outwork was a means of supplementing incomes, and the low payments indicate, not low piece-rates, but low output. The two workers who earned in excess of £BO were supplementing the one a maintenance-order allowance, and the other her invalid husband's pension. In neither case did excessively long hours appear to be worked. With the present shortage of female factory workers there is a great demand for outworkers. During the year ending 31st March, 1947, licences have been issued as follows : Auckland .. .. 378 Timaru .. .. .. 2 Hamilton .. .. 2 Oamaru.. .. .. 3 Tauranga .. .. 3 Dunedin .. .. 17 Napier .. .. 7 Invercargill .. .. 6 Wellington .. .. 108 Christchurch .. .. 103 Total .. .. 629 These licences are being carefully watched, and adequate inspection is made to ensure that there is no recurrence of the old evils. (8) The Factories Act, 1946 The New Zealand Factories Act has always been based upon British legislation, and the Imperial Factories Act of 1937, which came into force on Ist July, 1938, was carefully studied by the Department at that time, the Government intending to improve the New Zealand Act, particularly in respect of the provisions applying to the safety, health, and welfare of workers. The war intervened, but at the termination of hostilities the new measures were pressed forward. The result is the Factories Act, 1946. Important features of the Act are as follows : (a) The date for re-registration of factories is changed from the Ist April to Ist February, to enable the work of re-registration to be effected before the close of the financial year, thus avoiding the period when the work of the Department is most congested, and also to obtain more up-to-date figures for the Department's reports at 31st March. (b) The employment of boys and girls under the age of sixteen on overtime work is prohibited.

17

Number of Outworkers earning Sums indicated. £ Under 10 5 10 and under 20 11 20 „ 30 9 30 „ 40 13 40 „ 50 7 50 „ 60 2 60 „ 70 3 70 „ 80 4 80 and above 2