H.—ll.

Summary of Cases taken before, the Court. Employers— Number. Paying less than the minimum wage . . .. .. . . 40 Failing to indenture apprentices .. .. . . . . .. 9 Employing an unfair proportion of apprentices .. .. 3 Failing to give preference to unionists .. .. . . .. 6 Failing to pay overtime .. .. .. • • ■ • . . 1 Failing to provide apprentice employed on country work with board and lodging Failing to notify inspector of engagement of apprentice .. .. 1 Providing board and lodging for employee.. .. .. .. 1 Employing assistants later than time provided in award . . .. 6 Failing to have bespoke tailoring-work made up on own premises .. 1 Employing unfair proportion of youths .. .. ... Paying a smaller wage than provided in permit .. .. .. 1 Failing to pay drivers for certain Sunday work .. .. .. 1 — 72 Workers — Accepting less than the award rates . . . . . . . . 23 Failing to claim overtime rates . . . . . . . . . . 5 Failing to give notice of expiry of permit .. .. .. .. 1 Working later than award hours .. .. ... .. .. 6 Leaving shearing-shed without permission . . .. Working for smaller wage than amount of permit .. .. .. 1 Leaving employment without giving proper notice .. .. . . 1 — 38 110 Servants' Registry Offices Act. Servants' registry-office keepers have observed the provisions of this Act very well indeed, except in a very few cases where a small overcharge had been made in error, and in one case which was taken before the Court. Early in the year, shortly after the alteration of the scale of fees came into force, there was a tendency on the part of servants' registry-office keepers to mulct the applicant for employment with the cost of any telegram sent to an employer in respect of such applicant. I therefore made it very clear that such charges were quite illegal, and 1 believe they were at once discontinued. There are 12 registry-office keepers in business here. The one registry-office keeper taken before the Court was fined for charging a larger fee than allowed. Workers' Dwellings Act. The building of workers'dwellings has continued, 11 additional cottages having been finished at Sydenham, making 23 for that settlement. The 6 concrete cottages in course of erection by the Department at the Walker Settlement at Addington by day-labour is creating considerable interest here, as to whether the experiment will prove an advantage in point of cost, &c, over the contract system. I have very little doubt, from the number of inquiries being made, that little difficulty will be experienced in letting these houses to good tenants as soon as they are completed. Shearers' Accommodation Act. There are very few shearing-sheds situate within the Christchurch District. In a few instances it was necessary to send Inspectors to outside districts to ascertain if requisitions for improvements made last year had been carried out, and it was found that stationholders had generally complied with any orders made ; and some of them were quite pleased, after the work was done, that their attention had been drawn to the insufficient and unsatisfactory accommodation provided. Now that many of the large estates are being cut up into smaller holdings, the accommodation to be provided should be more up to date, with modern sanitary conveniences—hot water, bath, &c. The latter adjunct would be a boon to tired men after their hard day's work, and might, perhaps, allay some of the irritation that sometimes exists at shearing-time amongst shearers. Scaffolding Inspection Act. This Act has filled a long-felt want, and is giving general satisfaction to both employers and workers the former because the inspection of ropes, gear, and scaffolding by the Inspector acts as an extra safeguard against accidents, claims for compensation, &c. ; and the latter because they realise that their interests are being looked after also, inasmuch as all ropes, gear, ladders, &c, are tested by the Inspector, who also sees that guard-rails are erected and scaffolding properly braced. The very small number of accidents that have taken place in this district shows clearly that every care has been taken by the Inspector for the safety of the worker. During the year it has been found necessary to take 5 cases before the Court, 4 against contractors for failing to report notice of intention to erect scaffolding, and 1 for failing to report an accident. Judgmeni was given in favour of the Inspector in every case. A separate detailed report of the workdone in connection with scaffolding inspection has been made by Mr. Stringer, the Inspector of Scaffolding or the district.

xxxvi