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Servants' Registry Offices Act. There are three holders of licenses, and they are very respectable, and attend to their business. I have received no reports against them. The Wages Protection Act and Employment of Boys or Girls without Payment Prevention Act are both useful and much-needed Acts. I have, &c, T. Breen, Inspector of Factories. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories.

PAHIATUA. Sir, — ■ Police-station, Pahiatua, 9th April, 1900. I have the honour to report for your information upon the working of the Factories Act and the Shops and Shop-assistants Act, and on the manner they have affected this district. Factories. During the year there were forty-one factories registered here, employing 139 males and eighteen females, being an increase of nine factories and fifty-nine persons on the figures for the previous year. There have been no accidents during past year at any of the factories. During past year I have granted nine permits to work overtime. The total number of hours worked was twenty-four, varying from two to two and a half and in two cases three hours, and in each case the employers have paid the full overtime price, as prescribed by the Act. The Act is cheerfully obeyed by both employers and employed. The passing and bringing into force of " The Employment of Boys or Girls without Payment Prevention Act, 1899," is a great boon, both to the young whom it affects and to their parents. In many eases it has also proved a boon to the employers, for this reason : having to pay wages, the employers have now the choice of the most bright and intelligent children to learn the trades, and many who hithertofore were found in workrooms have gone out as domestic servants, or have adopted other walks of life for which they were probably better adapted. No prosecutions have been found necessary. Labour. During the past year there have been scarcely any men on the road seeking work. Several reasons may be given for this. First, there are no public works going on here ; secondly, many of the old men who were formerly seen wandering aimlessly about are now in receipt of the old-age pension, which lam sure is a blessing to many of our aged and needy; thirdly, men are, without doubt, becoming more thrifty, and in place of throwing away their hard earnings they find their way to the savings-bank, and put by a little for a rainy day. We have no unemployed here whatever, with the exception of the holders of small sections, who follow the co-operative works which are being done in their respective localities. These same men for years past have done this work, and when there are no co-operative works going on they in many cases improve their homes. The man with a large family, however, must get out to work, and many of the settlers in the back blocks find it a great struggle when the co-operative works are stopped, as they have no creameries or industries to depend on. Take them all round, they are a sturdy lot of pioneers, and, with their good wives, boldly stem the tide, and hope for bright sunny days in the near future. Shearers' Accommodation Act. The Act of 1898 was a great boon to the small settlers. So far as it affects this particular district, I found everything most satisfactory. Without doubt, the housing and comfort of the men is a first consideration. What a change indeed to a few years ago, when not the least consideration was shown to this class of men. I am pleased to say that this district is in a most prosperous and healthy state, and settlers can look forward with confidence to happiness and success in the near future. I am, &c, Charles Bowden, Inspector of Factories. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories.

EKETAHUNA. Sir, — Labour Office, Eketahuna, 6th April, 1900. I have the honour to forward my labour report for the year ending 31st March, 1900. Factories. To the 31st March last there were twenty-four factories registered, as against twenty-six the preceding year. The main industry under the above heading is sawmilling, which gives employment to 132 male adults with families depending upon them. There has been a decrease of two factories owing to their not coming within the provisions of the Act. No prosecutions have taken place during the year, the employers keeping within the provisions of the Act; neither has there been any friction.