H.—ll

13

Wellington. —Mr. E. Alward, for failing to grant a half-holiday to his assistant, was fined 10s., and 15s. costs. For employing an assistant under eighteen years of age for more than fifty-two hours in a week Mr. Alward was fined 10s., and 7s. costs. Christchurch. —Mr. Thomas P. Lord, for failing to close his shop during Christmas week, was fined £3, and 7s. costs. Jim Lee, for a similar offence during New Year week, was fined £3, and 7s. costs. Mrs. F. E. Eogers, for a similar offence during New Year week, was fined £2, and 7s. costs. For working his daughter in his factory on New Year's Day Mr. J. Wyatt was fined £1, and 7s. costs; and on a second charge for working her on Saturday afternoon a fine of £1 was imposed, with 7s. costs. Oamaru. —Mr. Norman Hood, for a breach of the Factories Act by working his employees after hours without a permit, was fined £1, and 7s. costs. Febeuaey, 1904. Wanganui. —W. S. Duston, confectioner, was prosecuted under the Shops Act (a) for employing seven women for over nine hours and a half in a day; penalty 75., with £1 Bs. costs : (b) for failing to allow an hour for dinner ; penalty Is., with 17s. 6d. costs : (c) for working assistants over fifty-two hours in one week ; penalty 75., with £1 Bs. costs. Two cases under the Factories Act— against Miss A. M. Signall, dressmaker, for failing to pay for statutory holiday; penalty 55., with 7s. costs : and against John Wilson, contractor, for failing to report accident; penalty 55., with 7s. costs. Wellington. —John Walters, laundryman, Brooklyn, was fined £1, with 7s. costs, for failing to grant Saturday afternoon half-holiday (under the Factories Act). Christchurch. —Walter Scarf and Wong Soy were fined ss. and £2 respectively, with 7s. costs each, for working employees on Saturday afternoon (Factories Act). Timaru. —The Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association were fined £2, with £1 Bs. costs, under the Shops Act, for employing assistants on the half-holiday. Dunedin. —(Factories Act) : James Mann was charged with failing (a) to obtain certificate of fitness for lad under sixteen years; penalty 10s., with 7s. costs: and (b) to report accident that happened to the lad ; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. Abraham Myers, for employing two women for over four hours and a quarter (5 hours 50 minutes) without an interval for meals; penalty £2, with 14s. costs. James Mcßride and Son were charged with failing to register brickworks ; case dismissed on ground that the occupation of the factory was not proved : fresh information laid. Agnes Henderson (D.1.C.) was fined £2, with 14s. costs, for employing two women for more than four hours and a quarter without an interval for meal. Wah Gaun was charged under the Shops Act with refusing to close shop on half-holiday ; penalty £1 10s., with 7s. costs. Wyndham. —E. G. Macpherson and W. J. Marsh were charged with (a) failing to keep wagebook and other records as per section 17, Factories Act; penalties ss. each, with 7s. costs each : and (b) with employing women in factory between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. without permit (two charges); penalties 10s. each, with 18s. and 16s. costs respectively. Maech, 1904. Auckland. —(Factories Act) : Wah Sing was fined £1, with 9s. costs, for employing females on Saturday afternoon. i\nnie Cuthbertson and E. Kirk were fined £1 10s., with £1 7s. costs, and 10s., with 9s. costs, respectively, for employing girls after 6 p.m. without permit (three charges in the first case). W. Crosher and Sons were charged with receiving premium of £75 from an apprentice ; confessed judgment; premium ordered to be returned. Christchurch. —(Shops Act) : William Murphy was charged with delivering goods on the halfholiday ; penalty £1, with 7s. costs. Lyttelton. —(Factories Act) : Wong Soy was fined £2, and 7s. costs, for working females in his laundry on Saturday afternoon. Timaru. —(Shops Act): The Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association were charged with employing two assistants on the half-holiday; case dismissed on the ground that the Borough Council had not appointed the day for closing at a " special" meeting.

DAYS APPOINTED FOE THE CLOSING OF SHOPS FOE 1904. Complete list of days appointed by City and Borough Councils and Town Boards for the closing of shops in their respective districts : — Tuesday Afternoon. —Papakura. Wednesday Afternoon. —Arrowtown, Auckland and suburbs, Balclutha, Birkenhead, Blenheim, Brunnerton, Bull's, Cambridge, Campbelltown, Clinton, Clyde (see Wairoa), Cromwell, Dannevirke, Devonport, Dunedin and suburbs, Feilding, Foxton, Gore, Green Island, Greymouth, Halcombe, Hamilton, Hampden, Havelock, Hastings, Hawera, Hawksbury, Hokitika, Invercargill and suburbs, Kaitangata, Kaikora North, Kumara, Lawrence, Lower Hutt, Manaia, Marton, Mataura, Milton, Motueka, Napier, Nelson, Newmarket, Ngaruawahia, Normanby, Onehunga, Opotiki, Opunake, Ormonville, Otautau, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Palmerston South, Patea, Petone, Queenstown, Eiverton, Eoss, Eotorua, Southbridge, Tapanui, Taradale, Te Awamutu, Turakina, Waihi, Waipawa, Wairoa, Waverley, Wellington and suburbs, Winton, Woodville, Wyndham. Thursday Afternoon. —Akaroa, Alexandra South, Ashburton, Carterton, Christchurch and suburbs, Eltham, Featherston, Geraldine, Gisborne, Greytown (Allanton), Greytown North, Hampstead, Helensville, Inglewood, Kaiapoi, Kamo, Kihikihi, Masterton, Mosgiel, Naseby, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Picton, Eangiora, Eichmond, Eoxburgh, Stratford, Tauranga, Te Aroha, Temuka, Thames, Timaru, Tinwald, Waimate, Waitara, Wanganui, Westport, Whangarei. Saturday Afternoon. —Amberley, Outram.