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supplied with imported boots, &c, and the falling-off in the demand for dredging machinery has materially affected the latter. The old buildings that used to do duty as factories are gradually giving place to new and more up-to-date premises; still, some of the old places die very hard. There has been a considerable amount of sickness, and many factory employees have been affected, but that is not due in any way to their being employed in insanitary workrooms, but entirely to the fact that we have been visited by an epidemic of scarlet and other fevers, and a factory is an excellent field for distributing the scourge should any of the occupants become infected by it and carry the germs there. Overtime. From a perusal of return hereunder you will see there has been considerable falling-off in the amount of overtime worked this year, both as regards persons employed and hours worked. When compared with last year's returns, which showed 1,950 women and boys to have worked 56,684 hours, this year shows 1,247 women and boys to have worked 36,272 hours. Certainly, the 1902 return covered a period of fifteen months. Males over sixteen years (1,027) worked 20,792 hours last year; males over sixteen years (879) worked 66,944 hours this year. The following are the trades, together with particulars as to number of persons and hours of overtime worked : —

There are 702 factories registered, employing 6,897 persons — i.e., 4,774 males and 2,123 women —showing an increase of 52 factories and 167 women, but there is 1 man less ; but allowance must be made for 562 men and 55 women employed in the Government Printing Office and Bailway Workshops, that were shown in last year's return, who are not returned this year, as those places are not now registered under the Factories Act. Permits have been issued to 301 young persons to work in factories—viz., boys 142, girls 159. Of the boys, 42 passed Standard IV., 53 passed Standard V., 28 passed Standard VI., and 19 passed Standard VII. Of the girls, 57 passed Standard IV. ;42 passed Standard V., 39 passed Standard VI., and 21 passed Standard VII. Care is taken to obtain correct particulars of age, and the production of school certificates, before permits are issued. There were 134 accidents reported during the year. One was fatal, 27 of a severe nature, the remaining 106 were very slight, consisting of cuts and bruises incidental to factory work where machinery is employed, and necessitating absence from work for a few days only. In all cases inquiry was made which showed that the accident was due to misadventure ; but in every case where it is possible to guard a machine so as to minimise the risk to the operator, that is promptly attended to by calling upon the occupier to guard it at once. There were seven prosecutions during the year. In each case convictions were secured. " The Shops and Shop Assistants Act, 1894." This Act with its many amendments is working very evenly, and is giving very little trouble. There has been a slight falling-off in the overtime worked—viz., 247 women and boys worked 3,010 hours' overtime this year, as against 255 persons who worked 3,448 hours' overtime last year.

Males. Women ai id Boys. Trade. Number of Persons. Hours. Number of Persons. Hours. Tailoring (factories) Tailoring (order) Dressmaking Laundry-work ... Printing and bookbinding Engineering Shipwrighting ... Furniture and upholstering Packing (general) Packing (tea) Bootmaking Shirtmaking Waterproof clothing Lamp-mantle making Miscellaneous trades Plumbing, &c. ... Jewellers Joinery-work Saddlery Brick and pottery work ... 25 87 1,666 3,454 357 135 271 171 109 14,824 3,654 7,820 3,479 2,595 83 290 134 21 11 29 52 3,356 27,257 22,758 731 505 2,143 387 7 40 171 320 5 59 45 13 35 144 939 852 919 555 38 13 22 35 39 2,019 414 448 742 984