H.—ll

4

appliances, &c, that should be provided for the protection of factory employees. This work necessitates reference to fire-prevention and health experts, and will therefore take some time to complete. It is proposed that some of these regulations should also be made under the Shops and Offices Act. Shops and Offices Act. It was found necessary in 128 instances to institute proceedings for breaches of the Act, as against 152 during the previous year; and in 124 instances convictions were entered, as against 148 last year. The Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1917, which came into force on the 27th October, 1917, relating to the restriction of the hours of employment of women and girls in restaurants, has on the whole been well observed throughout the Dominion. Warnings have been given in about twelve cases, and on only two occasions litis failure to comply with the provisions of the amendment rendered prosecution necessary. Where overtime has been worked employers have, in obtaining permits, satisfied the Inspectors that they have made propel' provision for the safe conduct of the female assistants to their homes. lleports from the various centres show that, as a general rule, restaurants and marble-bars are now closed before 10.30, the hour fixed by the Act after which female assistants may not be employed without a permit. In only four districts out of fifteen from which reports were received were permits applied for. In most of the other districts where the premises were kept open after 10.30 no assistants were employed after that hour, the proprietors themselves attending to the wants of the public. Regulations, Proposed regulations relating to heating, sanitation, &c. —see remarks ante, re regulations under the Factories Act. Akkeahs of Wages received fob Workers under various Acts. Arrears of wages amounting to £1,496 Bs. were collected from employers through the agency of the Department, and handed over to the workers concerned. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Notwithstanding the reduction in the staff caused by the war, the work entailed in the investigation of alleged breaches of awards and agreements has increased, the number of complaints being larger than during the previous year. As the following figures show, the ntimber of disputes filed for investigation by Conciliation Councils and the Arbitration Court has decreased :— 1917 18. 1916 17. Industrial agreements (inclusive of those made between parties without reference to a Conciliation Commissioner or Council) ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 63 Recommendations of Councils of Conciliation ... ... 123 159 Awards of Arbitration Court ... ... ... ... 114 168 Magistrates' Courts — Enforcements of awards, &o. ... ... ... 288 191 Of the 288 prosecutions, convictions were obtained in 245 eases. The awards and agreements actually in force as at the 31st March last totalled 541.

Work performed by Commissioners and Councils of Conciliation during the Year.

It will be seen that out of a total of 141 disputes, 12-'S (equal to 87 per cent.) were settled or substantially settled by the Commissioners and Councils of Conciliation.

Industrial Districts. Northern and Taranaki. Wellington, Marl- Canterbury, and borough, Nelson, Otago and Wcstland. and Southland. Totals. (Commissioner Harle Giles.) (Commissioners '. (Commissioners Hagger and Triggs and Newton.) Hagger.) Number of industrial agreements arrived at and filed with Clerk of Awards — Through Councils (i.e., without reference to Arbitration Court) Through Commissioners Number of recommendations of Conciliation Councils fully accepted and forwarded to Court to be made into awards Number of recommendations substantially accepted and forwarded to Court to be made into awards Number of other disputes referred to Court (in which no recommendation was made, &c.) 1 10 24 2 2 27 34 5 10 85 10 7 (i 23 9 3 6 123 18 Totals .. 54 39 48 141