3

H.—2

In respect of the registration of notices, provided by the eighth section of the Act of 1875, the minimum penalty for non-registration should be £10. The recommendation of Inspector Connell, that more stringent measures should be enacted for the regulation of the employment of girls in private houses, does not meet with the concurrence of the Commissioners. The interpretation of " workroom "by clause 4 of the Act of 1874 includes any place where females are employed. Private houses, therefore, where women, young persons, and children are employed for gain come under the operation of the existing law. Chables Knight, 27th May, 1878. Chairman.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. At a meeting of the Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the Employment of Females Act held at the Custom House, Dunedin, on — Tuesday, 7th may, 1878. Present: Mr. James Benn Bradshaw. Hon. W. H. Eeynolds. Mr. James Fulton. Mr. A. E. C. Strode. Dr. Charles Knight. Resolved: — (1.) On motion of Mr. Strode, That Dr. Knight be elected Chairman. (2.) On motion of the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, That the Chairman be requested to telegraph to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary for authority to incur such expense as may be necessary for conducting the inquiry. (3.) On motion of Mr. Fulton, That the Commissioner of Crown Lands be requested to give the services of Mr. Sessions to this Commission as Clerk. (4.) On motion of Mr. Fulton, That a notification be put in the papers, intimating that the Commission is willing to receive the names of such persons as may desire to give evidence as to the working of " The Employment of Females Acts, 1873-74-75." (5.) On motion of the Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, That Messrs. A. J. Burns, John Roberts, Robert Gillies, and Allan Holmes be requested to attend the Commission, with a view to giving evidence on the subject of the inquiry. On motion of Mr. Fulton, the Commission adjourned till 2 o'clock p.m. the following day.

i "Wednesday, Bth May, 1878. Peesent: All the Commissioners. Dr. Knight in the chair. Minutes of the first meeting read and confirmed. Arthur John Burns, Esq., M.H.E., a Director of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company, and Allan Holmes, Esq., Solicitor, attended and gave evidence. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Bradshaw, That the undermentioned gentlemen be requested to attend to-morrow for the purpose of giving evidence :— Mr. A. Inglis, and Mr. Haynes, of Herbert, Haynes and Co., Drapers, &c, at 2 o'clock p.m.; Mr. Anderson, Manager for Messrs. Hallenstein Brothers' New Zealand Clothing Factory, and Mr. Ewing, of Messrs. Brown, Ewing, aud Co., Drapers, &c, at 3 o'clock p.m.; Mr. Glendining, of Messrs. Kirkpatrick, Glendining, and Co., Drapers, &c.; and Mr. Marcus Hume, Boot Manufacturer, at 4 o'clock p.m. The Commission adjourned till 2 o'clock p.m. the following day.

Thttesday, 9th May, 1878. Peesent : Dr. Knight in the chair. Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Strode. Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, (Telegrams.) —The Chairman read a telegram from the Colonial Secretary, authorizing the Commission to incur such expenses as may be absolutely necessary for conducting the inqury. The Chairman also stated that, having telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary with regard to allowance to Commissioners, he had received the following reply:— " Government Buildings, Bth May, 1878. —Dr. Knight, Dunedin.—Colonial Secretary desires me to say that Sir George Grey, in his letter to Mr. Burns, expressly stated that an unpaid Commission would be appointed. No payment, therefore, can be given.—(Signed) G. S. Coopee."