H.—ll.

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR (REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

INDEX. PAGE. Secretary's and local Inspectors' reyorts .. .. •• •■ ■• •• •■ •• J Details of expenditurfl of the Department .. •■ •■ •• •• ■• •■ ■• v !" Caies under Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act .. .. •• •• •• •• .. xxxiv Cases und»r Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act .. .. •■ ■• •• •• •• ,' Brea>-h<"S of award* &c, si-ttled out of Court by Inspectors .. .. •• •• •• •• «** B-eaches of Factories, Shops, &c, Acts settled nut of Court, by Inspectors.. .. .. .. .. x Win Return of requisitions from shopk epers fixing the hours for closing of shops under the Shops and Offices Act., xlvm " Unemployed " assist, dby the Department .. .. .. •• ■• ■• ■• •• * Accidents in factories .. ■ •• •• •• •• •• " "" " .„ Legal decisions under Factories Shops, &c, Acts .. .. .. •• •• •■ •■ t* Permits granted by Inspectors to young persons (fourteen to sixteen years of age) to work in factories .. 18 Reports on accommodation provided for shearers (under ''Shearers' Accommodation Act, 1898 ) .. IS Returns of hour* of overtime worked in factories .. .- •• •• •■ •• ■• f- . Factories : Statistics of hands employed, ages, and wages .. .. •• ■• •• •• ■"

The Secretary, Department of Labour, to the Hon. the Minister op Labour. gIR __ Department of Labour, Wellington, 2nd June, 1906. I have the honour to present herewith the fifteenth annual report of this Department for transmission to His Excellency the Governor, in accordance with section 65 of " The Factories Act, 1901," and section 12 of " The Labour Department Act, 1903." The report covers the late financial year—viz., from the Ist April, 1905, to the 31st March, 1906. I have, &c, Edward Tregear, The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Minister of Labour. Secretary.

Labour has had to record a prosperous and remunerative year. Although there have been fluctuations in some trades, there has been full employment for the great majority of workers. It may well have been expected that the influx of immigrants from Great Britain and Australia during the last few years would overcrowd the labour market and clog the channels of industrial effort. Such has not been the case. While we have absorbed thousands of new-comers, our own people have, speaking generally, had no reason to grumble through being displaced. This arises partly from the system of employment current in the colony, which, permitting no undercutting in wages in trades protected by industrial unions, gives to those possessing knowledge of local conditions and requirements advantage over the visitor, unless the latter shows decidedly superior attainments. New Zealand has experienced a wet summer, and consequently the weather has had adverse influence both on wages and comfort. Without this drawback to harvesting, railway-building, &c, the year would have been unusually successful. The exports, which have risen from £12,000,000 in l£o2 to £16,000,000 in ISO 6, show that the agricultural farmer and runholder as well as the miner and grazier have reason for congratulation. Following or arising from this increase in productive values, employment for workers has not only been obtainable, but continuous and stable. It is this stability and constant employment which has benefited the worker, for the rise in wages, which is very slight (and in many trades imperceptible), has been swallowed up and entirely lost in the increased rents and cost of commodities. This applies mainly to i—H. 11.