AUCKLAND LABOUR AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 193, 15 August 1911, Page 6

AUCKLAND LABOUR AFFAIRS.

A YEAR'S RECORD. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Beporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. During the past year all classes of labour have -been in a satisfactory position in Auckland, reports Mr. J. Shanaghan (Inspector of Factories), the year having been very successful so far as operations are concerned, both for skilled and unskilled labour. Some 1450 men were found work, 240 of whom were marred with 723 dependants. Eight hundred and eight men were sent to Government work, and 042 to private work. It is satisfactory to note that so large a proportion is sent to private employers, as it is evidence that this branch of the Department's work is growing in favour, and holds its own in the estimation of private employers, says Mr. Shanaghan. FACTORIES ACT. The Factories Act is working very smoothly, most factories in most branches having been working full handed and on full time. Among the clothing and shirS-making trades, factory owners have complained generally about the lack of hands to cope with the work. During the year, 1513 factories were registered, a decrease of 28. Four hundred and forty-nine permits to young persons have been issued, 195 to boys and 254 to girls, a decrease of 55 in the case of boys, and an increase of nine in the case of girls. During the year, 2022 women and boys worked 70,417 hours' overtime. Among the Auckland factories, 239 accidents were reported, four being fatal, twenty-three serious, and 212 trifling. There were fifteen cases before the S.M. Court for breaches of the Factories Act, ithrlee being against Chinese laundrymen, under last year's amendment for working on Saturday afternoons. These three cases, however, failed, convictions being secured in the others. SHOPS AND OFFICES. Last year 1778 shops were registered as the result of shop to shop inspection. There were fourteen prosecutions for breaches of the Act, thirteen of which succeeded. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION, So far as Auckland is concerned, the Conciliation and Arbitration Act is working fairly satisfactorily. Tn Auckland of 591 inquiries made into alleged breaches during this year, 173 were taken before the Court, and 121 convictions were secured. The remaining 418 complaints were discovered to be either unfounded, or having only trivial or technical grounds. SCAFFOLDLNG. The Inspector of Scaffolding at Auckland (Mr. Hugh Gresham)" reports that during the past year, 159 buildings were commenced, and 101 additions and alterations were affected within the city boundary, at a cost of £248.023. The Auckland suburbs on the city side of the harbour erected 809 buildings, at a cost approximately of £000,573. Since the beginning of the year 405 notices of intention to erect scaffolding have been received—a big increase on last year's number. Sixty-four accidents were reported on buildings in course of erection, three proving faTal. The Inspector expresses the opinion that a penalty clause should be added to the Act to provide in extreme cases for the prosecution of persons erecting scaffolding, which is manifestly unsafe. During the year twelve scaffoldings were condemned as unsafe or for not being in accordance with regulations.