7

H.—ll

Workers' Compensation Act. During the year the Court of Arbitration heard and determined sixty-seven cases under the Act. No case calls for comment. Sheaeebs' Accommodation Act, 1919. During the year ninety-nine visits of inspection were made to shearing-sheds, and it was found necessary to serve sixty-three notices on employers to effect improvement in the accommodation. Since the appointment of the Dominion Inspector of Shearers' Accommodation a very complete inspection has been made of the accommodation provided throughout the Dominion, and. with the exception of the sixty-three cases mentioned, the accommodation is now of a satisfactory nature in practically all cases. The need for careful inspection is therefore not so pressing. Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act, 1908, and its Amendments (including Accommodation for Flax and Sawmill Workers). Sawmilling and Flax-milling. —Sixty-four visits of inspection were made and twenty-nine notices to effect improvements were served on various employers. Farm Labourers. One hundred and twenty-nine visits of inspection were made and two notices were served requiring alterations. Scaffolding Inspection Act. The following shows the number of notices of intention to erect scaffolding over 16 ft. in height received from 1914 to date : 1913-14,1,488; 1914-15,1,453; 1915-16,937; 1916-17,888; 1917-18, 706; 1918-19,666; 1919-20,897; 1920-21,955; 1921-22,946. These figures in themselves give some indication of the fluctuation in the amount of building done during the past nine years. 2,750 visits of inspection were made, and there were nine prosecutions. There were 106 accidents in connection with scaffolding during the year, three of which were fatal. One case in Auckland, where a beam on which scaffolding had been erected gave way, resulted in four men being precipitated some 75 ft. to the ground with fatal results. The accident was due to a fault in the beam which was not noticed by the men themselves or by the Inspector of Scaffolding. The beam was also placed on the flat instead of on edge, and as a result was not able to bear the weight placed on it. The Inspector concerned has since left the service of the Department. In the other two fatal cases the accidents were not due to faults in the scaffolding. Servants' Registry Offices Act. There are ninety-four offices registered in New Zealand, an increase of five since last report. In no case has it been found necessary to institute a prosecution for a breach of the Act. Footwear Regulation Act. There have been 606 inspections made throughout the Dominion under this Act, but in no case has it been found necessary to take action for a breach. The Act appears to be now well understood by manufacturers both in New Zealand and abroad, and the necessary branding is carried out in all cases where leather is not used. Weights and Measures. In January of this year effect was given to Cabinet's decision that the inspection of weights and measures should, for purposes of economy, bo undertaken by this Department, whose Inspectors can attend, to such work while making inspections of factories, shops, &c, under the Factories, Shops and Offices, and other Acts. A new Act is now in course of preparation to facilitate inspection and administration.

War Legislation Amendment Act (Rent-restriction). Year ended 31st March, 1922.

These figures show a slight reduction from those of last year. Last year's amendment to the Act making it easier for an owner to obtain possession of a dwellinghouse for his own occupation has, to a certain extent, had the effect of throwing open more houses to let, though the fact that the economic position renders it now more difficult to sell is also a factor.

Number of Cases | sottlodl taken to Court. [ without R , of Complaints ly Department to Court. of Complaints N rf Complaints N ™?'j* ° f ° as . es in ,y Department withdrawn whloh n ° Actlon soourse to Court. was taken. Number of Complaints withdrawn. Place. Decision. (a.) Increase &«>«»"> I Increase • i.-c i not justified, justified. jugtified j -1 (6.) (a.) (*■) (a.) (6.) Total. I ircroEiso Increase Increase not justified but Outside For Misnot justified. justified. Owners 8oo .P® of "eUaneous reduced Rent. Act " Cauaes - 216 11 2 18 58 384 31 28 35 21 37 196 114 10 9 10 59 242 l____ 361 49 46 49 154 822 Total. Auckland .. 2 13 04 Wellington.. 6 17 21 Other districts .. 1 39 I , Totals .. 8 31 121 i