EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES AND OTHERS ACT, 1881 (REPORTS OF INSPECTORS APPOINTED UNDER).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885 Session I, H-20

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1885. NEW ZEALAND.

EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES AND OTHERS ACT, 1881 (REPORTS OF INSPECTORS APPOINTED UNDER).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

AUCKLAND. Sib, — Armed Constabulary Station, Auckland, 12th May, 1885. I beg leave to respectfully submit the following report, for your information, respecting the working of " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881." Since my appointment, dated the 23rd December, 1884, I summoned twelve persons of different employments —viz., dressmakers, tailors, blacksmiths, &c.—for breaches of the Act, and obtained eleven convictions, two of which were against one person. Although only one information is usually laid against each offender, a number of persons were sometimes found unlawfully employed—in one case as many as eighteen females after 2 p.m. on Saturday. In only three cases have the magistrates inflicted a fine as high as £1. Previously it was only the nominal penalty of ss. By the amended Act of 1884 I have permission to enter at any time (but it is no offence to cause me such a delay before admission that all signs of work can be cleared away) ; but still the Act is very inefficient, in consequence of the vagueness and clumsiness of the wording of some of the sections,, also the omission of many important provisions absolutely necessary to the proper working of the Act. I will briefly refer to a few of the difficulties met with, and the means by which the provisions of the Act are and can be evaded. The provisions of section 5 do not apply to males above fourteen years ; consequently boys from twelve to eighteen years can be, and are, employed for as many hours a day as their employers choose—sometimes from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and longer. Section 8 of the Act, and subsections, may be said to be inoperative, owing to the difficulties in getting at the ages of the children employed, which could only be got through the parents, who, in the first place, want the wages earned by the child, and in the next, by section 11 are themselves liable to punishment, and by law cannot be compelled to give evidence which may criminate themselves. As males and females very often work together in the same room, and the males may be working for an hour or two (there is nothing in the Act to prevent a male of fourteen years and upwards commencing work at any hour) previous to the females coining to work, it is very difficult for employers so to arrange meal-hours as to comply with subsections (1) and (2) of section 7. The more I see convinces me that boys up to eighteen years should have the privileges of section 5 ; for why should, say, a little boy of fourteen years be compelled to work one or two hours more daily, at the same work, than a full-grown woman ? Subsection (2) of section 7 should be amended by the addition of " and either before or after working-hours;" as I have found girls working after 2 p.m. on Saturday who in Court swore they were there for their own pleasure, and I am aware (from private information) of one dressmaker at the present time (she was lately before the Court, and acquitted) who takes her girls upstairs into her bedroom, after 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and keeps them working to a late hour. Advantage is also taken of subsection (1), section 10, by taking the girls from the dressmaking and millinery rooms and putting them in the shop as saleswomen after 2 p.m. on Saturdays. All persons of the female sex above fourteen years should be called females, as there is considerable difficulty in getting them to give their ages, without which an information cannot be laid; and males only above fourteen should be called young persons. As the Masters and Apprentices Act allows boys of thirteen years to be bound, and the Education Act only compels attendance at school to that age, under this Act boys of thirteen are supposed to loaf about the streets, as they can only w Tork half-time, if some School Committee does not make a favour of admitting them. I would therefore suggest that boys and girls of thirteen years be allowed to work full time —viz., the hours laid down in section 5. Not being compelled to give their names and ages, it is sometimes difficult to get them to give them; therefore the employers should be compelled to give names and ages on demand. There aremany other items in which the Act is deficient, to which I will not refer at present. I have, &c, E. Gamble, The Resident Magistrate, Auckland. Sergeant, A.C. I—H. 20.

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WHANGAEEI. Police Station, Whangarei, 6th May, 1885. Constable Goedon respectfully reports, for the information of the Eesident Magistrate, in reference to " The Employment of Females Act, 1881," that for the quarter ended 31st March last there have been nine persons employed in this township whose occupations come within the operation of the Act, and that no breaches of the Act have taken place. D. Gordon, The Eesident Magistrate, Whangarei. Constable. i » *

HAMILTON. Sib, — Police Office, Hamilton, 4th April, 1885. I have the honour to report, for your information, that, in compliance with your appointment under " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," and Amendment Act, 1884, I have visited the different establishments coming within the meaning of the Act in the Waikato and Eaglan Districts, and have pointed out to the employers the requirements of the Act and the penalty that would assuredly follow if a breach of it was committed. During the past quarter lam not aware, nor have I heard, of a single breach being committed in either of the districts for which you have been pleased to appoint me. I have, &c, Fbancis McGovebn, The Eesident Magistrate, Hamilton. Sergeant-Major, A.C.

OPOTIKI. Sib, — Police Station, Opotiki, Ist May, 1885. I have the honour to report that there have been no irregularities with regard to " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," in the Opotiki District, for the three months ended the 30th April, 1885. I have, &c, John McCabe, The Eesident Magistrate, Opotiki. Constable.

NAPIEE. Sib,— Police Station, Napier, 28th April, 1885. I have the honour to report, in reference to your memorandum re the Employment of Females Act, that during the quarter ending the 31st March, 1885, I have visited all the workrooms in this town at different times, and found the Act complied with. I have, &c. Jas. Bubtenshaw, The Eesident Magistrate, Napier. Inspector.

PATEA. "Sib, — Constabulary Station, Patea, 28th April, 1885. I have, the honour to report, for your information, that on the 21st January, 1885, immediately after boing appointed Inspector by you under " The Employment of Females Act, 1881," I visited the workrooms of Messrs. , in this town, and directed them, in compliance with the Act, to post in their workrooms the necessary notices in writing or print, and to forward to you a copy of such notice, together with one to me as Inspector ; and that on the 27th instant I again visited their rooms, and found, with Messrs. , the necessary notices posted, but who said they forgot that you or the Inspector should be supplied with copies, but will do so at once. Mr. - - had no notice posted up, not being able, as he states, to procure one from the Cleric of Court, but that he will immediately do so, as directed by the Inspector. I have, &c, John Donovan, The Eesident Magistrate, Patea. Inspector.

WANGANUI. Police Station, Wanganui, 20th January, 1885. Sbkgeant Bissett reports that, being the person appointed undsr section 11 of " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," he has visited the different workshops and other places where females ara employed, on several occasions during the quarter ended the 31st December, 1881. On the 13th December ho found females employed in several places after the hour of 2 p.m., in contravention of section 6 of the Act, and consequently laid informations against five different persons; but, as all admitted the offence, and expressed regret at neglecting to comply with the section, the charges were not pressed against them. A. Bissett, The Bssident Magistrate, Wanganui. Sergeant.

Police Station, Wanganui, 10th April, 1885. Sebgeant Bissett reports that, as Inspector under " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1831," he has on several occasions during the quarter visited the different workshops, &c, in Wanganui, and found that the Act was generally complied with. An information was laid against one employer for having six females at work after 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, but it was dismissed on the ground that he was not aware they were so employed, and against his instructions. A. Bissett, The Eesident Magistrate, Wanganui. Sergeant.

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FEILDING. Constabulary Station, Feilding, 31st March, 1885. Constable James Meehan begs to report that the Employment of Females Act is strictly enforced in this town, and is well attended to by employers. The Eesident Magistrate, Wanganui. James Meehan.

Constabulary Station, Feilding, 30th June, 1885. Constable James Meehan begs to report that the Employment of Females Act is strictly enforced in this town, and is well attended to by employers. The Eesident Magistrate, Wanganui. James Meehan.

PALMEESTON NOBTH. Sie, — Police Station, Palmerston North, 10th April, 1885. I have the honour to report that the provisions of '' The Employment of Females and Others Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1884," have, in nearly all factories in Palmerston North, been strictly complied with, the omission being in sending in and posting up notices as required by section 9of the Act of 1881. In all cases, however, this has been promised to be done; and, with the ex^ ception of Mr. A. McMinn, who, on the 19th February ultimo, was fined Is. for breach of the Act, no breach of the Act has taken place. I have, &c, William Manning, The Besident Magistrate, Wanganui. Constable.

FOXTON. Sie,— Police Station, Foxton, 20th April, 1885. Be "Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," and the Amendment Act, 1884, I beg leave to report, for your information, that no breach of the above Acts has been or is being committed in the Town of Foxton. I have, &c, F. McAnulty, The Eesident Magistrate, Wanganui. Constable, Inspector under Act.

WELLINGTON. Sir, — Police Station, Wellington, 6th April, 1885. I beg leave to report having, at uncertain times, visited the various manufactories and workshops in the City of Wellington during the quarter ending the 31st ultimo, with a view of enforcing the Employment of Females Act; but, as I failed on every occasion to detect any breach ■ thereof, it has been unnecessary to lay any informations or other proceedings. I am perfectly satisfied the provisions of the Act are being fairly complied with, for, were it not so, complaints would reach me anonymously, as they did during the quarter ended on the 31st December, 1884. I have, &c, S. Goodall, Inspector of Police, Inspector under the Act. The Eesident Magistrate, Wellington.

MASTEBTON. Police Station, Masterton, 2nd May, 1885. Seegeant McAedle reports, for the information of H. A. Stratford, Esq., Eesident Magistrate, Masterton, that, in accordance with his appointment under " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," and the amended Act, 1884, he visited the various places where females and others are employed in Masterton, and found that the workrooms where females are employed are well lighted and ventilated, and in every way appear comfortable. The hours for work daily at the various drapery and millinery establishments are eight hours ; in the boot and shoe establishments the same hours are observed with apprentices, of whom there are not any under fourteen years of age. As the numbers in all of the above-named establishments are limited to not more than six in any one place, there is no overcrowding, and the employers seem to take an interest in providing and having comfortable apartments for their employes. There was no complaint, nor does there appear to be any apparent ground for such. Henby McAedle, The Eesident Magistrate, Masterton. Sergeant of Police.

NELSON. Sib,— Nelson, 24th April, 1885. I have the honour to report, for your information, that the Employment of Females and Others Acts are working favourably in Nelson. There has been no serious breach of the Acts during the past quarter ending the 31st March, 1885. I have had occasion to bring three charges against one person. They were, however, considered by the Bench as being of a trivial nature, and dismissed. . I have, &c, John Nash, Inspector under the Employment of Females Acts. The Eesident Magistrate, Nelson. ..

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WESTPOET. Sib, — Police Office, Westport, 4th May, 1885. Having been appointed by you in accordance with section 11 of " The Employment of Females and Others Act 1881 Amendment Act, 1884," to see that the provisions of the said Act are properly carried out, I have to report, for your information, that no breaches of the said Act are being committed in this district; in fact, there are no factories or persons employed in the district requiring the provisions of the Act to be enforced. I have, &c, J. Bassett, The Resident Magistrate, Westport. Sergeant of Police.

GEEYMOUTH. Police Department, Greymouth, 30th April, 1885. Sebgeant-Majob O'Gbady begs to report, for the information of the Eesident Magistrate, for the quarter ended the 31st March, re, "The Employment of Females Act, 1881:"— The following persons employ females as dressmakers and milliners in Greymouth, and have fairly observed the provisions of the Act, namely :— No. 1. —Eight females (dressmakers). Hours of employment, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing one hour for dinner. Workroom large and well ventilated. No. 2. —Four young persons employed. Hours of employment, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing one hour for dinner. Good room. No. 3.—Two females employed (dressmakers). Hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing one hour for dinner. No. 4.—Two milliners employed. Hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; one hour for dinner. No. 5. —Three young persons employed as dressmakers. Hours, same as others. No. 6.—Two milliners employed. Hours, same as others. No. 7. —Two milliners employed. Good room. Hours, same as others. No. B.—Four young persons employed as dressmakers. Hours, same as others. Thomas O'Geady, The Eesident Magistrate, Greymouth. Sergeant-Major of Police.

HOKITIKA. Police Office, Hokitika, 30th April, 1885. The Inspector under " The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," reports that there are no factories here in town, but Wo tailors and three dressmakers employ young persons. Of the tailors, one has two youths between fifteen and eighteen years as apprentices, and two full-grown young women as machinists; the other has one male apprentice about fifteen and a half years old and he does not employ any females beyond his own daughters. The dressmakers are three in number. Each of these have from five to eight young women learning the trade. They are all living in town, and go home to their dinner and at night. Since his appointment in January last the Inspector has visited the various places at uncertain hours, and the law has been fairly given effect to, although none of the above-named persons have the notices required by section 9 posted in the rooms, nor have copies been furnished to the Eesident Magistrate or police ; but all the young persons employed seem to be well aware of what hours are fixed by law. S. Molleb, Sergeant and Inspector under " The Employment The Eesident Magistrate, Hokitika. of Females and Others Act, 1881."

CHRISTCHURCH. Police Station, Christchurch, 23rd January, 1885. Constable T. Stephenson, No. 721, begs to report, for the information of the Resident Magistrate, that the convictions in Christchurch for breaches of "The Employment of Females and Others Act; 1881," since it came in force are six in number: two of the offences were the not posting notices in workroom showing hours of labour, and the remainder the employing of females after 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoons. Two of the cases occurred last December, and the defendants were fined £1 each. In previous cases the fines were not so heavy, being from 3s. to 10s.; so that the increase may, perhaps, have a deterring effect. It may be stated that the wages to females in workrooms average about £1 per week. There fore, if the temptation to keep, say, twelve —a common number in a workroom—the half-day on Saturday afternoon is given way to by the employer, his gains equal £1; and he, of course, gains in a similar way for whatever overtime he extracts during the week. The offence of employing a number of females longer than the hours allowed by the Act seems to be a wrong done to each individual employed, and the Constable thinks, if it is permissible in him to say so, that a separate information should be laid for each person found kept beyond legal hours, even though in the same room and at the same time. The leading drapers here do not conceal their dislike to the Act, and do not appear to think it any harm to get as much work out of the females as they can. On receipt of the Eesident Magistrate's letter of the Bth December, urging vigilance in carrying out the provisions of the Act, the constable immediately made a report to his superiors representing that, in pursuance of orders from the Colonial Secretary's Office, he would be engaged inspecting weights and measures in the country districts, and therefore could not satisfactorily fulfil the in-

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structions contained in the letter. Since that time he has been almost constantly employed inspecting weights and measures, and consequently has not been able to show as good results in this report as might, under other circumstances, have been expected. T. Stephenson, The Eesident Magistrate, Christchurch. Constable No. 721.

Police Station, Christchurch, 2nd April, 1885. Constable T. Stephenson, No. 721, begs to report that a number of the workrooms in Christchurch have been visited from time to time during the quarter ended the 31st March, and the owner of one large establishment was summoned and fined for employing females on a half-holiday. This case, with those which preceded it, and which were detailed in the constable's last report, should have a good effect on employers, and go far towards causing a strict observance of the Act. In addition to the case mentioned above, four informations for breaches of the Act were laid at the latter end of the quarter, but will not be for hearing till the 9th instant. One is for employing females at a time which the notice posted in the workroom showed should be a non-working hour; another for employing a child on two successive days of eight hours; the third for allowing females to remain in the workroom during the dinner-hour; and the fourth for not having posted in the room a notice specifying the hours of labour. The last-named offence occurred in a semi-private house, where six women are employed dressmaking; and, unless this case has the effect of causing similar small places, which are probably numerous in the outskirts of the town, to make themselves known by sending a copy of the notice showing hours of labour to the Eesident Magistrate, an effort will be necessary in the direction of the discovery of their whereabouts, that they may be added to the list of factories, and the required supervision kept over them. Notwithstanding the four cases mentioned as pending, it may reasonably be concluded that the more important clauses of the Act have been less infringed than formerly, as complaints to the police, which used to be frequent, and which, though written anonymously, were sometimes found to be well grounded, have discontinued. T. Stephenson, The Eesident Magistrate, Christchurch. Constable No. 721.

KAIAPOI. Police Station, Kaiapoi, 19th May, 1885. Sergeant Alexander McDonald, No. 167, reports, for the information of the Eesident Magistrate, that since he has been appointed Inspector under the Employment of Females Act he has several times visited the factory known as the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory, and other establishments where females are employed in the Kaiapoi District, and in no case has had to complain of a breach of the said Act. Alexander McDonald, The Eesident Magistrate, Kaiapoi. Sergeant No. 167.

DUNEDIN. Sib,— Dunedin, 9th April, 1885. I have the honour to furnish you with the following report of the duty performed by me as Inspector of Factories for the quarter ending the 31st March, 1885. 2. Since the 12th January last, the date on which I received my appointment, I have visited at different times the various factories in the City of Dunedin, and also in the Borough of South Dunedin. In a large number of these factories, but more especially the smaller ones, where only a few hands are employed, I found the Act contravened in various ways, as follows : In very few of the workrooms did I find either a written or printed notice posted up, specifying the hours of employment as required by section 9 ; also, in some of the factories the " young persons " were kept at work for five and five and a half hours without an interval. This occurred more particularly on Saturdays, it being a half-day. Others, again, were kept at work from eight and a half to nine hours every day, so as to make up for the half-day on Saturday. 3. In mostly all cases where I found that the Act had been contravened, the proprietors stated they were ignorant of the Act and its requirements, and many of them could not understand how they came under the Factory Act, although they employed both " children, young persons, and females;" but when the provisions of the Act were explained to them they showed every willingness to comply with the regulations, which, so far as I am aware of from subsequent visits, they have endeavoured to do. 4. I would also beg to draw your attention to the fact that in a number of the factories which I have visited I found young persons at work who, from their size and appearance, did not look to be more than ten or twelve years of age, but, when asked, stated their age to be over fourteen years. Many of these boys are kept-at work from eight and a half to nine hours per day, and some even more. As these boys come under the title of " young persons," I find that they are not included in section 5 as regards only working the eight hours in any one day, but can be worked for any length of time, provided they are allowed an interval every four and a half hours. 5. I might also state that I have on one or two occasions been refused admittance into factories where I had reason to believe a contravention of the Act was being committed ; and I find that there is no provision made in the Factory Act for refusing admittance to or obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty. Therefore, as this fact becomes better known among factory owners (as no doubt in time it will), many of them may take advantage of the omission and refuse admittance. I have, &c, . John 'Hanson, The Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin. Inspector of Factories. 2—H. 20.

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■BtE, — Dunedin, Ist July, 1885. As Inspector of Factories under "The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," I have the honour to report, for your information, the duty performed by me for the quarter ended the 30th June, 1885. During the past three months I have visited at different times the various factories and workrooms in my district (which consists of the City of Dunedin and Borough of South Dunedin). The number of factories, &c, in the district is 155, wherein are employed at the present time 1,304 females and 579 boys, who come under the operation of the Act; but in the summer months, when work is more plentiful, there is consequently a much larger number of persons employed. There have been during the quarter fourteen informations laid against persons for knowingly contravening sections 6 and 9of the Act: out of this number, nine were convicted and fined, and five cases withdrawn. So that, with these exceptions, I have every reason to believe that the majority of employers have complied with the provisions of the Act. I would again beg to draw your attention to a matter which I referred to in my report of the 3lst of March last —namely, the omission in section 5 of the Factory Act to include "young persons," so as to prevent boys between the ages of foureen and eighteen years being worked more than eight hours in any one day—as there are a good many employers who are now taking advantage of the omission to keep boys at work from nine to fifteen hours per day, but in doing so they certainly comply with the requirements of the Act, by allowing them half an hour interval every four and a half hours, as required by subsection (1) section 7. I might also mention to you one or two of the employers whom I refer to. The first is that of Messrs. , who employ at the present time thirteen boys between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years. They commence work at 8 a.m., and continue until 10.30 p.m. —fourteen and a half hours per day; but out of this they are allowed the half-hour interval as required by the Act. The wages of these boys are from 9s. to 15s. per week. Another is that of Mr. , where eighteen boys are employed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.—twelve hours—for which they receive from 9s. to 14s. each per week; but some of these have to return again at 6.30 p.m., and remain to 9 p.m., making a total of fifteen hours per day; and for this extra two and a half hours they receive 7d. Out of the fifteen hours per day they only obtain one and three-quarter hours for intervals, which leaves thirteen and a quarter working-hours. There is also another matter which I wish to draw your attention to, viz., in several of the drapers' and milliners' shops where females are employed as dressmakers, &c, in this city, I find that a number of them are kept after 2 o'clock pm. on Saturdays for the purpose of serving in the shops, and are thus kept until 9 and 10 o'clock at night. Many of these are simply kept, I believe, for the purpose of making any alterations that might be required ; and do so in the shop, and frequently behind the counter, under the pretence of serving customers, and thus evade the intention of the Act. I have, &c, John Hanson, The Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin. Inspector of Factories.

POET CHALMEES. Port Chalmers Police Office, Ist April, 1885. Sebg-EAnt Hanlon begs to report, for the information of the Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin, that all the establishments coming under " The Factories Act, 1881," have the required notices posted up in their working-rooms, copies of which have been furnished to the Eesident Magistrate's office here, and also to the Inspector appointed under the Act, who has visited the different rooms from time to time during the quarter ended 31st ultimo, and found no breaches of the Act committed. W. Hanlon, The Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin. Sergeant.

Port Chalmers Police Office, Ist July, 1885. Sebgeant Hanlon begs to report, for the information of the Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin, that he has visited the various establishments coming under the Act in Port Chalmers during the quarter ended on 30th ultimo, and failed to find any breaches thereof. W. Hanlon, The Eesident Magistrate, Dunedin. Sergeant.

INVEECAEGILL. Sib, — Invercargill, Ist July, 1885. In compliance with instructions contained in your letter of the 25th April last, I have the honour to report, for your information, that "The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881," has been satisfactorily observed by the employers of female labour in this town during the quarter just ended. I have made repeated visits to their workrooms at closing time, and have invariably found that the hours for closing are correctly kept. I have, &c, D. Eamsay, The Eesident Magistrate, Jnvercargill. Inspector.

By Authority: Q-eobge Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs.