H.—ll

Court or Board of Arbitration, which should include an equal number of employers' and workmen's representatives; the New Zealand Act already conforms to the latter recommendation, the Court of Arbitration being the tribunal that hears most of the cases. On the subject of occupational diseases a recommendation was made, and the States are recommended therein that the list of diseases should be poisoning by lead, poisoning by mercury, and anthrax. (These are already, with others, provided for in the New Zealand Act.) PUBLICATIONS. During the year the usual annual " Book of Awards," containing the decisions of the Court of Arbitration and other matters under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and Labour Disputes Investigation Act, was issued. In addition the Department has published a pamphlet, " Digest and Reports of Decisions of the Court of Arbitration under the Workers' Compensation Act, 1922." This has hitherto been published by the Accident Underwriters' Association, and the work has now been taken over by the Department. The pamphlet will continue to be issued annually; the price fixed is ss. A " Precis of the Labour Laws of New Zealand " was also issued in 1925. STAFF NOTES. The staff of the Department now totals 125, and is composed as follows : Head Office—Administrative, 4 ; clerical, 16. District offices —Inspection, 59 ; clerical, 38 ; Conciliation Commissioners, 3 ; and Court of Arbitration (members and staff), 5. In addition some 180 other persons, mostly officers of other Departments, give part-time services as agents in small towns. The Inspectors include experts in scaffolding-erection and building-construction, in the manufacture and use of weights and measures and mechanical appliances as used in factories, and also in the composition of footwear. EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR. Salaries, temporary clerical assistance, allowance to officers performing higher duties, and £ allowance to police and other officers acting as departmental agents .. .. .. 33,538 Advertising and publications .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 281 Fares, board and lodging, &c., advanced to persons proceeding to employment (see refunds below) .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 241 Fees paid to assessors of Industrial Councils .. . . .. .. . . 851 Legal and witnesses' expenses (see refunds below) .. . . .. . . .. 198 Postage, telegrams, telephones, and rent of letter-boxes .. .. .. .. 1,551 Printing and stationery . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 3,048 Office requisites (typewriters), fuel, and lighting . . . . . . .. .. 687 Rent and rates on office accommodation . . .. .. .. .. 1,079 Travelling-allowances and expenses of Inspectors, members of Court of Arbitration, Conciliation Councils, &c., bicycles, motor-cycles, and motor-cars, and maintenance thereof .. 8,303 Upkeep of departmental residence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33 Miscellaneous expenditure— £ Arbitration Court and Conciliation Councils .. .. .. .. 56 General .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 978 1,034 50,844 Less refunds— £ Fares .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 219 Legal and witnesses' expenses .. .. .. .. .. 102 Sale of publications . . .. . . .. . . .. 136 Travelling - expenses recovered from defendants in cases taken by Department and from persons to whom weights and measures' services were rendered . . .. .. .. . . 314 From Government Statistician for services of officers .. .. 200 Miscellaneous .. . . . . . . . . .. .. 74 Freight recovered from persons to whom weights and measures services were rendered .. .. .. .. .. .. 116 1,161 £49,683 The above figures do not include a number of items for which provision for payment is made elsewhere than in the Department's vote —viz., salaries of Judge and members of Court of Arbitration (£3,430), messenger services, cleaning, &c.

18