H—ll

(2) The total number of certificates issued was 2,159, compared with 2,258 issued in 1948-49. The number issued for persons under fifteen years of age shows a further reduction from the previous year, and the number of certificates issued for girls has fallen considerably. Certificates issued for school-holiday periods have fallen from 189 in 1946-47 to no more than 9 in 1949-50. (3) The predominant industries for which certificates were issued are : clothingmanufacture, 714 ; engineering group, 410 ; printing and book-binding, 118 ; furnituremanufacture and cabinet-making, 104 ; footwear-manufacture, 86. (i) Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22 (1) There has always been difficulty in estimating the number of shops and the number of workers employed therein. In part this has been because of frequent change of occupier and even in type of business undertaking, particularly in the case of smaller shops, and in part because it has never been possible in any one year to carry out a complete inspection. As a result, however, of the assistance from returns in connection with the half-yearly survey of employment estimates are now more accurate. (2) It is estimated that as at 31st March, 1950, there were 28,284 shops (15,946 with assistants and 12,338 without assistants). This increase on 1949 (15,502 and 11,609 respectively —total 27,111) is chiefly due to a revision of estimates for two areas. There were slight upward movements in several areas but, apart from the revisions noted, it can be said that there was little change of consequence. (3) The revision of estimates just noted also affected the number of persons employed. Thus the 32,219 males and 31,465 females —total 63,684 —estimated to be employed as at 31st March, 1950 (last year 31,244 and 30,519 respectively —total 61,763), included 1,250 workers due to estimate adjustments. The slight upward movement was more pronounced in the northern area. (4) The estimate as to the number of offices has been revised. It is now estimated that there are 8,254 places subject to the " office " sections of the Act. There are 13,701 males and 14,827 female office-assistants employed, total 28,528. (Those offices that are within shops or factories form part of the factory or shop and workers therein are counted accordingly.) (5) There were 16,578 inspections of shops and 2,163 inspections of offices. Kequisitions totalling 325 were served seeking improvement of conditions. (6) A reduction occurred in the amount of overtime authorized. For the calendar year 1949, 65,876 hours were worked compared with 78,347 in 1948 and 74,174 in 1947. Hotels and restaurants accounted for 15,530 hours (24,581 hours last year). It is probable however, that the overtime actually worked by hotel staffs was considerably in excess of this figure which is merely the overtime actually notified. (7) Schools for Learners. —Section 9 of the Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1936, was introduced to regulate the system of payment of premiums by or in respect of shopassistants or learners. The section was chiefly directed at the ladies' hairdressing trade and it prohibits the premium system unless the shop is approved as a school and the payment is made pursuant to a written agreement that is approved for the purposes of this section by the Chief Inspector of Factories. There were eleven registered schools as at 31st December, 1949, and during the year ending on that date seventy-five agreements had been submitted for approval, there being thirty-five current at the end of the year. All were in respect of the hairdressing trade. As a result of an application in respect of the teaching of floral art, inquiries are now current concerning the extent to which this is carried on.

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