H.—ll

Another suggestion made by one of the Inspectors is, I think, an important . one — viz., to forbid workers and others from placing belting on machinery which is in motion. Notwithstanding that loose pulleys are always required and are already provided for by the Factories ,Act (section 39), some employees persist in removing belting whilst machinery is in motion. No doubt the carelessness shown is due to the employees' being so constantly engaged in attending to machinery that they sometimes lose respect for its dangers. I think it would be a useful provision to insert in the Act. Another Inspector suggested that definite provision should be made for the minimum notice to be given by employers or workers in regard to termination of employment. Disputes as to wages due to employees who have either been dismissed or who have left their employment frequently come before the Department's Inspectors, and considerable difficulty is often experienced in ascertaining what, notice the workers or the employers are entitled to. As matters stand, unless the workers are bound by an Arbitration Court award which provides for a definite period of notice, these disputes have to be settled in accordance with common law. I think that the Factories Act should provide that, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, one week's notice be necessary. Shops and Offices Act. The table following shows details of the number of shops, employers and employees engaged therein for the year 1911-12, and the total wages paid : —

Shops, including Hotels, &c.

These totals show substantial increases all round on last year's figures—viz., in employees, 10,551; in shops, ,&c, 1,733; and in wages, £402,752. These increases are largely due to the fact that hotels are included for the first time in this year's figures. Taking each of the four centres, the following comparison shows the total wages paid to shop, hotel, and restaurant assistants : — .... £ Auckland City ... ... .... • -■' 318,918 ,,. ■ Christchurch City .,,-■■ ,... ■•■■ • •■• 308,132. Wellington City ... ... ... ••■ ■ ■■ ■•■ 285,961 - . Dunedin City ... ... ... ■■'•• •-. ••• 234,784 Adding the amounts paid in wages in the cities to that of their surrounding districts, the order is somewhat reversed, as follows : — £ ■ : Wellington District ... ... ... • ■■ ■■■ ■■■ 673,704 Auckland District ... ... ■■■ 572,866 Canterbury District ... ... ... • ■■ ■•■ ■ 450,732 Otago and Southland District ... .... •■■ 423,708

VIII

Number of Persons engaged. Pistriot. Total Number of Shops. Total Wages paid during the previous Year.» Employees. Employe Employers. Persons engaged. Males. Females. Males. Females. Auckland City Wellington City Christchurch City Dunedin City Northern District Taranaki District Wellington District Marlborough District Nelson District Westland District Canterbury District Otago and Southland Dis.trict — 2,278 1,954 2,209 1,589 2,178 744 3,089 227 360 665 1,114 1,481 1,349 1,218 1,044 1,510 487 1,798 149 223 578 722 1,870 1,557 1,500 1,189 1,974 785 2,689 190 343 704 1,096 319 436 436 376 488 177 I 581 72 I 91 j 285 237 j 5,948 5,296 5,363 4,198 6,150 2,193 8,157 638 1,017 2,232 3,169 2,115 1,641 1,449 1,325 2,217 798 2,803 203 353 773 1,159 £ 318,918 285,961 308.132 234,784 253,948 88,628 387,743 27,043 46,346 92,120 142,609 632 870 458 645 851 698 227 196 2,168 2,409 919 822 75,420 113,504 Otago Southland Totals 17,909 j 11,662 ! 15,446 3,921 48,938 16,577 2,375,147 * The total wages paid re: ier to the year 1910-1 ., the figuR ssfor the year 1911-12 tot yet being ivailable.