H.—ll,

LXVI

REEFTON. With a few exceptions, the laws relating to shops and factories have been well complied with. During the year 2 tailors were convicted and fined for not paying their employees fortnightly, and 1 hotelkeeper for failing to keep a time and wages book. There have been no accidents in any of the factories. 105 shops and restaurants and 25 factories were registered. The district has been suffering for some months past from a mining dispute. The mineowners desire to have most of the mining work carried out on contract instead of on wages. The Miners' Union has conceded the position in respect of certain kinds of work, but refuse to allow the work known as " stoplng "to be done on contract. The result is that scores of the men were paid off, and the mines at Reefton and at Waiuta are working short-handed by about four hundred men, nearly all of whom have left the district for other fields. There is, unfortunately, no immediate sign of the removal of the deadlock. As mining is the only industry in this district, the business people feel the position keenly. This district should be one of the most prosperous in the Dominion. Sheep, wool, pigs, bacon, fruit, butter, and cheese could easily be made staple products of the district.

ASHBURTON. The period under review has been, generally speaking, fairly prosperous. The want of boy and girl labour has been felt very keenly at times during the year, more particularly as it applies to the woollen-mills. The freezing-works have not been so busy this season, owing, no doubt, to the quantity of new feed, which has not the substance to fatten the sheep. The dairy factory here continues to prosper. In the building trade the outlook is promising, and large additions have been made during the year to several establishments here, and a considerable number of private houses have been erected both in the town and suburbs. There has been very little unskilled labour about, and even now the registry-office keepers are greatly in need of farm labourers. •

WAIMATE. Trade in all its branches has been good; the district is purely agricultural and pastoral. There is a splendid harvest. There is now plenty of work for all requiring such.

OTHER TOWNS. Officers in the following towns have also forwarded reports stating that the various labour law 8 are working satisfactorily : — Northern Industrial District. Aratapu. Mangawai. Pukekohe. Thames. Cambridge. Mangonui. Raglan. Tolaga Bay. Coromandel. Maungaturoto. Rotorua. Waihi. Helensville. Mercer. Russell.'? Waikino. Hikurangi. Morrinsville. Taumarunui. Waipiro Bay. Hokianga. Ngaruawahia. Taupo. Waipu. Huntly. Ongarue. Tauranga. Waiuku. Kaitaia. Opotiki. Te Aroha. Warkworth. Karangahake. Otorohanga,. Te Awamutu. Whakatane. Kawakawa. Paeroa. Te Karaka. Whangaroa. Kawhia. Papakura. Te Kuiti. Whitianga. Kihikihi. Port Awanui. Te Puke. Taranaki Industrial District. Eltham. Manaia. Opunake. Patea. Inglewood. Mokau. Wellington Industrial District. Ashhurst. Hastings. Ormondville. Te Nui. Bull's Kimbolton. Otaki. Upper Hutt. Carterton. Levin. Pahiatua. Waipawa. Dannevirke. Mangaweka. Porangahau. Waipukurau. Eketahuna. Martinborough. Raetihi. Wairoa. Featherston. Marton. Rongotea. • Waitotara. Foxton. Moawhango. Shannon. Waverley. Greytown. Ohakune. Taihape. Woodville. Hunterville. Ongaonga.