H.—6

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railway- and road-works in the Wellington and Taranaki Districts; thus, the difficulty which has afflicted this particular part of the colony year by year was temporarily relieved. During the year ten men have been sent to the improved bush-farms settlement at Chasland's, in Southland. About three of these men have sent for their wives and families to join them, and I believe are doing well, and quite contented. I have received a letter from one of the families. They express great satisfaction both with the place and the work, and say they consider those fortunate who avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them by the Government of lifting themselves out of the ranks of the unemployed into a much better and happier social condition. A few men have been sent to the State farm near Levin, in the North Island. One of the men's families has already joined him, and, I believe, is well satisfied with the change. I regret to say that the larger number who have had similar opportunities have not manifested that desire to help themselves which was anticipated by the department at its inception, and hence the repetition of the same applicants time after time for employment on the Government co-operative contracts. However, it is to be hoped that, as preference is to be given to men in future who will be prepared to take their families with them to districts where work is more plentiful, we shall have less of the unemployed difficulty each year. Work has been provided for 419 men, with 1,412 dependent upon them—322 have been sent to Government co-operative works, and 87 to private employment. It is much to be regretted that large landowners and other employers of labour have not availed themselves more frequently of getting their workmen through the Bureau. Factories. This year 369 factories have been registered in this district, employing 4,753 hands—namely, 3,705 males and 1,048 females —an increase of fifty-six factories, I found that in some of the larger factories the owners had neglected to provide separate rooms in which females and young persons could take their meals. This omission was remedied in every case when the requirements of the Act was explained. In several instances I found the sanitary arrangements in a very unsatisfactory condition, but, with the ready assistance of the city and borough authorities, this cause of complaint has been removed. ■ I have had occasion to prosecute firms for breaches of the Act; in some of the cases I believe it has been those left in charge who have been the real offenders. On the whole, the employers have afforded me every facility for inspection at all reasonable hours, and I desire to acknowledge their courtesy in this matter. I have also always found the employes willing to communicate any information that would help me to carry out my duties, with due regard to the best interest of both employers and employes. Shops and Shop-assistants Act. This Act, I believe, is being carried out as well as could be expected, but is a most difficult measure to administer. Almost all the principal establishments close on Thursday afternoon. Those who do not close, on the whole, consistently carry out the provisions of the Act with regard to their employes and their half-holiday. There are a few who have been somewhat difficult to deal with who try to evade the law. I believe the majority of shop-owners would hail a compulsory half-holiday, provided the choice of the day is left to be fixed locally. I have, &c, John Lomas, Inspector.

TIM ABU. Sir,— Timaru, 31st March, 1894. I have the honour to forward you a report of the factories and workrooms registered under " The Factories Act, 1891," for the year ending the 31st March, 1894, in the Timaru District. Tor the present year, up to the 31st March, 1894, I have registered thirty-eight factories and workrooms, giving employment to 382 males and 118 females, against forty-five factories and workrooms in the year 1893, when 358 males and 163 females were employed, showing an increase of 25 males and a decrease of 45 females. The latter I account for in the general fall-off of the dressmaking and tailoring. I might say that after making careful inquiries I find there has been a falloff of trade in the district this last twelve months, but it has been very perceptible this last three months, more so in the branches mentioned above, which is no doubt due to the low price of grain and indifferent crops. Several farmers have informed me that they cannot get advances on their crops, which no doubt is the cause of stagnation in trade. With regard to the sanitary condition of the workroom, &c, the employers have shown every desire to make any improvements pointed out to them for the comfort of their employes. Several of the owners have shifted partitions to enlarge the rooms, and ventilation has been increased where necessary. With regard to the weekly half-holiday, Thursday has been the day appointed for some considerable time past. Such being the case, I have not had the difficulty here that has been experienced in other places where there has not been any fixed day. I have, as often as my other duties would allow, visited the workrooms at different times, but have reason to believe that the holiday is strictly observed. During the year I summoned the manager of a flour-mill for working a person on the Thursday afternoon, but the case was dismissed, as the day was appointed under the Employment of Females and Others Act, which is repealed ; but the Timaru Borough Council has since called a meeting and reappointed the day under the Factories Act. There are two general complaints about the working of this Act from the employers' point of view. One is in regard to the schedule of charges. They seem to think that there should be a midway charge between the five shillings and the one pound one, of course dividing the numbers.