H.—ll.

Amendment of the Factories Act, 1921-22. By section 11 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1937, an amendment was made to the provision introduced in 1936 requiring that for the purpose of determining the rate of payment to which any person is entitled under the Act there shall be taken into account all periods of that person's employment in any factory whatsoever. Under the amendment referred to it is provided that in respect of an apprentice employed in any factory there shall be taken into account only the period or periods of his employment in that factory or in any other factory in which similar work was carried on at the time of his employment therein. Pursuant to the powers contained in section 47 of the Finance Act, .1936, a modification order was issued in respect of the factory occupied by Smokeless Fuel and Briquettes (Canterbury), Ltd., and also an extension order adding fruit-packing and fruit-grading factories to the list of industries exempt from the statutory limits of working-hours, at the same time modifying in relation to this class of factory the sections relating to payment of wages for holidays and Sundays. The regulations under the Factories Act, 1921-22, were consolidated and reissued during the year. SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT. The Department has no accurate record as to the number of shops and the number of assistants employed therein, but from the information available it is estimated that there were during the year 30,263 shops throughout New Zealand, of which 15,133 (approximately one-half) were carried on without assistants. In the shops with assistants it is estimated there were employed 27,994 males and 25,263 females. During the year visits of inspection to the number of 20,193 were made. Prosecutions numbered 662 ; convictions were obtained in 593 cases. A number of cases were withdrawn; fines totalled £555 18s. Of the prosecutions, 384 were for offences regarding the closing-hours of shops in the evenings or on the statutory half-holiday. Complaints were received respecting 1,506 alleged breaches of the Act, resulting in 264 prosecutions and 644 warnings. In 457 cases investigations showed that no breach had been committed while in the remaining cases no action was considered necessary. Three hundred and ninety-eight prosecutions were instituted for breaches which were discovered by Inspectors, and warnings were given in other cases, being either first offences or of a minor nature. One hundred and seventy-seven requisitions were served on occupiers of shops to comply with various requirements of the Act, such as for sanitary conveniences ; heating-appliances ; fire-escapes ; lunch-room; seating or rest-room accommodation; lighting; ventilation; cleanliness; and partitions, including separate entrances. Amendment of the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22. By an amendment to the Shops and Offices Act contained in section 29 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1937, public accountants' offices have been placed in the same position as solicitors' offices and miners' union offices, and the only provisions of the Act now affecting such offices are those relating to wages. INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. Work done under the Act during the Year 1937-38. Industrial agreements filed .. .. .. 77 (last year 60). Awards, of the Court of Arbitration .. .. .. 216 (last year 127). The awards and industrial agreements actually in force on the 31st March, 1938, total 598 (last year 469). Some new occupations now covered by awards or agreements which have not previously been covered are draughtsmen (engineers') ; flax-textile workers ; glove-workers ; Harbour Boards' employees (officials and clerical staff) ; hospital employees (porters, attendants, male nurses, &c.) ; ice-cream-manufacturing employees ; oystermen and oyster-canning workers ; plaster-manufacturing workers ; Rabbit Boards' employees ; rubber-workers ; wireless operators (marine). Work performed by Commissioners and Councils of Conciliation. Industrial agreements made under section 28 of the principal Act .. 77 (last year 60). Disputes where recommendations were substantially accepted or agreements reached and referred to the Court to make awards .. 145 (last year 206). Disputes where partial settlement was arrived at and referred to the Court to make awards .. .. .. .. 98 (last year 67).

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