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been resolved in most district offices. By and large, the Department is operating with* greatly increased efficiency, and the figures contained in other sections of this report reveal the wider service given to the public and the expanded attention given to theadministration of the various statutes and regulations for which the Department is responsible. (b) Inspection Staff Reference has already been made to the much larger volume of inspections which has been achieved in 1948-49. This was due to several factors : (if the results of the training programme undertaken in the previous year; (ii) the release of experienced inspectors from training work when the initial training programme was completed ; (iii) the increase in the inspection staff during the year. Besides adding to the number of Factory Inspectors, it was possible to increase the number of Scaffolding Inspectors materially through the appointment from outside the Public Service of applicants with suitable technical backgrounds. Additional trainee Inspectors of Factories were appointed from within the service by the transfer of a number of suitable officers from other Departments and the diversion of some of this Department's clerical staff. (e) jFactories Inspectors' Examination Regulations 1949 These regulations which were gazetted at the end of March, establish the FactoriesInspectors' Examination Board and prescribe the syllabus of the examination which must be passed before an officer may qualify for appointment as an Inspector of Factories under the Factories Act, 1946. It is expected that many trainee Inspectors will present themselves for the first of these examinations to be conducted this year. (d) Staff Training During the year six courses have been held for senior district officers, five in industrial administration and one in employment problems. Nine trainee Factory Inspectors, recently passed through a special course in Head Office and Wellington District Office before commencing practical assignments, while six more experienced inspectors commenced a nine-months' course in sanitary inspection at the Wellington Technical College in association with officers of the Health Department. Training measures for the junior staff have been continued by the Personnel and Staff Training Officer, whohas visited each district office and met all new appointees. As a further training measure, nearly all supervisory and sub-controlling officers from Head Office and the Wellington and Lower Hutt district offices have passed through the T.W.I. Job Instruction Course.. (e) Liaison With Health D&partment The closest liaison is being maintained with the Health Department in the promotion of industrial welfare, and particular reference should be made to the co-operation received from Dr. Garland, Director of the Division of Industrial Hygiene, who has lectured to and worked in the closest collaboration with Factory Inspectors. In order to extend this mutual co-operation the Health Department has appointed Industrial. Hygienists in the four main centres* and these specialist medical officers, together with their industrial nurse assistants, are being located in this Department's offices for working purposes. In Wellington and Christchurch the arrangement is already in operation and is proving to be very helpful to both Departments. (/) Other Staff Matters (1) The immigration staff, both in London and New Zealand, has been slightly increased to cope with the new Displaced Persons and Nominations Schemes and witk the larger number of immigrant arrivals in the Dominion.

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