5

H.—2o.

structions contained in the letter. Since that time he has been almost constantly employed inspecting weights and measures, and consequently has not been able to show as good results in this report as might, under other circumstances, have been expected. T. Stephenson, The Eesident Magistrate, Christchurch. Constable No. 721.

Police Station, Christchurch, 2nd April, 1885. Constable T. Stephenson, No. 721, begs to report that a number of the workrooms in Christchurch have been visited from time to time during the quarter ended the 31st March, and the owner of one large establishment was summoned and fined for employing females on a half-holiday. This case, with those which preceded it, and which were detailed in the constable's last report, should have a good effect on employers, and go far towards causing a strict observance of the Act. In addition to the case mentioned above, four informations for breaches of the Act were laid at the latter end of the quarter, but will not be for hearing till the 9th instant. One is for employing females at a time which the notice posted in the workroom showed should be a non-working hour; another for employing a child on two successive days of eight hours; the third for allowing females to remain in the workroom during the dinner-hour; and the fourth for not having posted in the room a notice specifying the hours of labour. The last-named offence occurred in a semi-private house, where six women are employed dressmaking; and, unless this case has the effect of causing similar small places, which are probably numerous in the outskirts of the town, to make themselves known by sending a copy of the notice showing hours of labour to the Eesident Magistrate, an effort will be necessary in the direction of the discovery of their whereabouts, that they may be added to the list of factories, and the required supervision kept over them. Notwithstanding the four cases mentioned as pending, it may reasonably be concluded that the more important clauses of the Act have been less infringed than formerly, as complaints to the police, which used to be frequent, and which, though written anonymously, were sometimes found to be well grounded, have discontinued. T. Stephenson, The Eesident Magistrate, Christchurch. Constable No. 721.

KAIAPOI. Police Station, Kaiapoi, 19th May, 1885. Sergeant Alexander McDonald, No. 167, reports, for the information of the Eesident Magistrate, that since he has been appointed Inspector under the Employment of Females Act he has several times visited the factory known as the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory, and other establishments where females are employed in the Kaiapoi District, and in no case has had to complain of a breach of the said Act. Alexander McDonald, The Eesident Magistrate, Kaiapoi. Sergeant No. 167.

DUNEDIN. Sib,— Dunedin, 9th April, 1885. I have the honour to furnish you with the following report of the duty performed by me as Inspector of Factories for the quarter ending the 31st March, 1885. 2. Since the 12th January last, the date on which I received my appointment, I have visited at different times the various factories in the City of Dunedin, and also in the Borough of South Dunedin. In a large number of these factories, but more especially the smaller ones, where only a few hands are employed, I found the Act contravened in various ways, as follows : In very few of the workrooms did I find either a written or printed notice posted up, specifying the hours of employment as required by section 9 ; also, in some of the factories the " young persons " were kept at work for five and five and a half hours without an interval. This occurred more particularly on Saturdays, it being a half-day. Others, again, were kept at work from eight and a half to nine hours every day, so as to make up for the half-day on Saturday. 3. In mostly all cases where I found that the Act had been contravened, the proprietors stated they were ignorant of the Act and its requirements, and many of them could not understand how they came under the Factory Act, although they employed both " children, young persons, and females;" but when the provisions of the Act were explained to them they showed every willingness to comply with the regulations, which, so far as I am aware of from subsequent visits, they have endeavoured to do. 4. I would also beg to draw your attention to the fact that in a number of the factories which I have visited I found young persons at work who, from their size and appearance, did not look to be more than ten or twelve years of age, but, when asked, stated their age to be over fourteen years. Many of these boys are kept-at work from eight and a half to nine hours per day, and some even more. As these boys come under the title of " young persons," I find that they are not included in section 5 as regards only working the eight hours in any one day, but can be worked for any length of time, provided they are allowed an interval every four and a half hours. 5. I might also state that I have on one or two occasions been refused admittance into factories where I had reason to believe a contravention of the Act was being committed ; and I find that there is no provision made in the Factory Act for refusing admittance to or obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty. Therefore, as this fact becomes better known among factory owners (as no doubt in time it will), many of them may take advantage of the omission and refuse admittance. I have, &c, . John 'Hanson, The Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin. Inspector of Factories. 2—H. 20.