H.—ll

83

Cambridge. —(Factories Act): A firm of bakers were fined £1, and 7s. costs, for failing to keep overtime-book, and £1, and 7s. costs, for failing to keep record of wages paid. Feilding. —(Shops and Offices Act): Three Chinese shopkeepers were each fined £1, with 7s. costs, for failing to close their shops on Saturday evening at 9 p.m. in accordance with a gazetted requisition from shopkeepers fixing the closing-hours. On a second charge for the same offence, defendants were convicted and discharged. Each defendant carries on the business of fruiterer and grocer, and it was for the sale of groceries after hours that convictions were obtained. Hunterville. —(Shops and Offices Act): A Chinese shopkeeper was fined 55., with 7s. costs, for failing to close his shop in accordance with gazetted requisition from shopkeepers fixing the closinghours. Wellington. —(Factories Act): A laundry-proprietor was fined £1, with 7s. costs, for employing women after hours without a permit from the Inspector. The permit had been asked for and refused, as the number of hours overtime prescribed by the Act had already been worked by the employees in question. (Shops and Offices Act): A draper was fined £1, and costs 75., for employing assistant after 9 p.m. on a Saturday. A music-seller was fined £2, with 7s. costs, for employing assistants after 9 p.m. on a Saturday. Nelson. —(Factories Act): A charge against a brick and pottery company for failing to report .•in accident to one of its workmen was dismissed. The Magistrate said that the Inspector had done his duty, but held that it was impossible in this case for the manager of the company to notify the Inspector within the prescribed time (forty-eight hours after the accident occurred). Christchurch. —(Shops and Offices Act): A jeweller was fined £2, with 7s. costs, for failing to close his shop at 9 p.m. on a Saturday, in accordance with a gazetted requisition from jewellers fixing the closing-hours. Ashburton. —(Shops and Offices Act): A general storekeeper was fined £1, and costs, for failing to close his shop on the statutory half-holiday. Dunedin. —(Shops and Offices Act): A chemist was fined £3, and costs £1 Bs., for failing to close his shop at 9 p.m. on Saturday, in accordance with gazetted requisition from chemists fixing the closing-hours.

Permits granted to Young Persons (14 to 16 Years of Age), to work in Factories during the Year ending 31st March, 1907.

Town. Boys: Standard passed. Girls: Standard passed. Number of Boys. Number of Girls. IV. V. I VI. VII. i IV. V. VI. VII. A.hburton Auckland Blenheim Carterton Christchuroh .. Dunedin Gisborne Grey mouth Hastings Hawera Hokitika Invercargill .. Masterton Mosgiel Napier Nelson New Plymouth Oamaru Palmerston North Rangiora Temuka Timaru Wanganui Wellington Whangarei Smaller towns 14 234 2 11 217 203 3 20 12 4 7 23 8 6 12 19 5 9 12 9 6 28 5 157 9 91 -3 248 1 180 233 3 12 12 4 6 17 3 21 25 9 2 12 18 3 6 99 52 1 2 ! 4 87 35 70 00 2 7 5 5 : 3 1 1 4 5 2 1 2 ' 2 1 10 8 3 2 . 2 9 1.. 4 3 6 1 •i I 2 2 55 52 2 j 4 18 i 33 5 83 1 2 95 73 1 8 4 3 3 10 5 2 1 8 1 3 3 4 1 89 69 74 1 4 3 3 4 3 1 8 3 70 46 82 5 3 4 6 10 2 2 89 1 62 77 2 6 4 1 3 10 1 12 10 4 1 3 1 1 3 " 3 '_ i 3 2 4 11 1 37 3 38 2 i 9 5 i 1 13 10 219 5 26 13 3 2 70 2 6 1 4 62 1 12 1 9 4 62 2 8 25 2 27 346 321 376 Totals 1,126 1,083 400 295 404