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XXXVI

Some of the smaller employers neglect to make themselves acquainted with the provisions of the awards affecting them. Ibis appears especially so in the case of builders who have no registered factory. Arrears of wages amounting to £2.'! 1 Is. 9d. due to workers under awards have been paid through the action of the Department during the year. Shearers' Accomodation. I have inspected 12 stations during the year; 7 of these have carried out the improvements required by the Department last 3-ear, 15 had accommodation according to the Act, and 20 had received legal notice to erect or improve their accommodation. One application was made by mc to the Magistrate for an order to provide proper accommodation, but the case was dismissed, the Magistrate holding that a Post Office receipt for a registered letter was not proof of service of notice under the Act. Tho natives have almost a monopoly of the shearing in the district, and their custom is to take their wives and families with them. The women work on the board, and fill all positions except actual shearing. The sheep-farmers state generally that the Native women are industrious and expert, and quite equal to the white male shed bands employed in other places, but considerable difficulty arises in respect to sleeping-accommodation from the fact that separate accommodation should, I consider, be provided for the single men, for single girls, and for married couples. As we have no power in respect to any persons other than employees, we cannot take any action on behalf of children. The most satisfactory arrangement would appear to be for the married couples to live in tents and for the single persons to be housed in separate quarters, divided for the two sexes. The accommodation for shearers in this district should meet the requirements of the Act when the improvements required by the notices served this year are carried out. Servants' Registry Offices Act. There are 7 servants' registry offices in the district, and all are well conducted. Employment Bureai . The year has been a vor\ active one in regard to the employment of labour. Taking unskilled labour, there has been an almost constant increase in the number of applicants month by month, beginning in April, 1910, with .'!•'! applicants ami reaching a maximum of 110 during the month of March, 1911. The number Bent to employment in April, 1910, was 5, while in March, 1911, it was 73. Altogether there have been 612 applicants for employment, and work has been found for 338, of whom !).'> were sent to private employment and 2-15 to public works. The skilled trades have been very busy during the year, ami in some cases a slight shortage of labour has occurred. The building trades have been exceptionally busy, and it is encouraging to note that most of the buildings have been erected outside the business part of the town, thus indicating an increase of population in those parts, which will no doubt cause an increase in the number of business premises to he erected in the near future. Conclusion. In conclusion, I desire lo express my thanks to those with whom my duties have brought mc into contact for the courtesy extended mc, also to the officers of the various Government departments and borough officials for their willing- assistance rendered mc in carrying out my duties. 1 have, 4c, w. [|. Westbrooke, The Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. Inspector of Factories.

NAPIEK. Sin, — Department of I,about, Napier, 17th April, 1911 Herewith I submit for your consideration my annual report on the various matters that have engaged the attention of this branch of the Department of Labour for the period ending 31st March, 1911. General. It is pleasing to be able to state that the year just ended has, on the whole, been one of general prosperity in this district. The building trade has been very busy throughout the year, and on several occasions great difficulty has been experienced in obtaining competent journeymen. The furniture trade, however, was rather quiet during the earlier portion of the year, and during the winter a number of journeymen were either idle or working only half-time. However, the trade considerably improved during the last few months. The engineering trade, in its various branches, lias had a fair amount of general work on hand, and employers were enabled to keep their staffs at work throughout the year. Clothing trades —tailoring, dressmaking, and millinery —have experienced a busy year, and employers express themselves as well satisfied with the business done. Wholesale and retail houses report that although there was a stringency in the money-market in the early part of the year, business for the remainder has been exceptionally good.