H.—2

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES ACTS (REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE WORKING OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Appointment op Commission. (1.5.) Normanby, Governor. To all to whom these Presents shall come, and to Chaeles Knigiit, of Wellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, Auditor-General • Alfred Eowland Chetham Strode, of Dunedin, in the said colony, Esquire; the Hon. William Hunter Eetnolds, of Dunedin aforesaid ; James Fulton, Esquire ; and James Benn Bradsiiaw, of the same place, Esquire, greeting: Whereas it has been represented to me that it would be desirable if an inquiry were made into the operation of an Act passed by the General Assembly of the colony in the year 1873 the short title whereof is "The Employment of Females Act," and which said Act has also been amended by several subsequent enactments : And whereas it is expedient that a Commission should be appointed to make such inquiry with, under, and subject to the powers, terms, and conditions hereinafter set forth: Now, therefore, know ye that I, George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, having full trust and confidence in your ability and integrity, in pursuance and exercise of all powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, do hereby appoint you the said Charles Knight, Alpred Eowland Chetham Strode, Hon. William Hunter Eetnolds, James Fulton, and James Benn Beadshaw, to be Commissioners, by all lawful ways and means, and subject to these presents, to examine and inquire into the several matters hereinafter set forth: — First —To inquire into the operation of the hereinbefore-mentioned Act and the several amendments thereof, and to what extent the said Acts or any of them have accomplished the purposes for which they were passed ; Second —To inquire whether, in your opinion, any of the said Acts aro capable of amendment, and in what respects such amendments should be made ; and Third —To inquire whether the said Acts or any of them ought, in your opinion, to be repealed or cease to operate. And I do hereby authorize and empower you, before you shall enter upon the subject-matter of this inquiry, to appoint one of your number to be Chairman at meetings to be held by you under these presents ; and, in case of the illness or absence of such Chairman from any meeting, then that you may appoint any one of your number to be Chairman at such meeting : And I do hereby declare that the powers and authorities hereby given to you the said Commissioners may be exercised by any three of you sitting and acting together : And I do hereby further authorize and empower you the said Commissioners as aforesaid, by all lawful ways and means, to examine and inquire into every matter and thing touching and concerning the premises in such manner, and at such time or times and at such place or places within the Provincial District of Otago as you may appoint or determine: Provided that any such inquiry may be adjourned by you from time to time, or from place to place, but so that no such adjournment shall be for a longer period than ten days at any one time, nor to any place without the limits of the said district : And I do hereby also authorize and empower you to have before you and examine, on oath or otherwise, as may be allowed by law, any Inspector appointed under the said Acts or any of them, and all such other person or persons whom you shall judge capable of affording you any information touching or concerning the said inquiry or any part thereof, then and there to produce any books, I.—H. 2.