H.—ll

XXII

Work is plentiful for those skilled workmen who are residents, and the Hokitika-Ross Railway works and Hokitika Railway-bridge, which have recently been put in hand, have taken up all the surplus unskilled labour. The shops close without fail on the day set apart for the weekly half-holiday, the employers being just as desirous as their employees for the half-day off. I have, &c, Wμ. Folley, Inspector of Factories. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington.

TIMARTJ. Sic, — Department of Labour, Timaru, 27th April, 1903. I have the honour to submit to you my annual report of the working of-the various Acts under my charge to the 31st March, 1903. During the year I have registered 125 factories, the same number as last year, and permits to the number of 36 were granted to young persons under the age of sixteen years—viz., 17 boys and 19 girls. The sanitary conditions of the factories are good. Every branch of trade has been active during the year, with perhaps one exception—viz., engineering. I find that employers generally are doing their best to comply with the different Acts. There have been no accidents reported during the year. There is only one licensee under the Servants' Registry Offices Act. Work for unskilled labour has been plentiful during the year, and any person willing and able to work was easily placed. The harvest in South Canterbury has been quite an exceptional one, and with oats threshing out 70 to 100 bushels and wheat 40 to 70 bushels, combined with good prices, the farmers are having a grand time, and are likely to absorb all the available labour during the winter months. I have, &0., P. Kbddib, Inspector. The Chief Inspector, Department of Labour, Wellington.

OAMARU. Sir, — Department of Labour, Oamaru, 15th April, 1903. I have the honour to submit for your information a report upon the working of the Factories Act and the Shops and Shop-assistants Act and the state of labour in this district during the year ended the 31st March, 1903. Factories. Seventy-three were registered during the year in good and suitable buildings, well kept and well ventilated, and in every way comfortable for the employees. I have visited these places at various times, and found everything working smoothly. I have found the employers very anxious to carry out any suggestion made by me for the comfort and welfare of their employees. The woollen-factory, the principal one in my district, has again made considerable additions to the premises, and have erected a new dining-room for the use of the women workers, which is very complete and comfortable. The sanitary arrangements have been well looked after, and the place is now in first-class order, and I am pleased to say that the provisions of the Act have been well complied with, which I may say in a great measure applies to all registered places in my district. I have found that employers of labour in factories in this district since the Act of 1901 came in force have only on a few occasions applied for overtime, as I find they do not believe in the principle of paying for such. There are 344 persons employed in factories in this district, and, as far as I can learn, all seem contented and pleased with the way in which they have been treated, and express satisfaction with the working of the Act. Shops and Shop-assistants Act. This Act is now so well known that I have had no difficulty in carrying out its provisions. Thursday is the half-holiday in the town, and all interested seem anxious to comply with the law. Labour. This work is very troublesome in Oamaru, and has been so for a number of years. There are a great many labouring-men settled in the district, and a large portion of them seek co-operative employment. It is difficult to deal with the question, and a good deal of tact is necessary to cope with it. I have, &c, Thomas O'Grady, Inspector of Factories. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington.