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There were 156 factories and workrooms registered, a decrease of 11 on the previous year. The smallnees of the number registered at this office is accounted for by the fact that factories and workrooms at Clive, Farndon, and Hastings are registered .-it these places. There are 20 females and 12 boys under the age of sixteen years, and 294 females and 7!)() males over that age, making a total of 1,116 male and female workers. Overtime warrants have been granted Lo 17 factories to work 100 females and boys under sixteen years of age 1,006 hours; 65 adult males have worked 5,078 hours. The last-mentioned were principally engineers. Certificates of fitness have been granted to 5 males and 10 females under sixteen years of age. "Shops and Offices Alt, 11)04." On the coming into operation of this Act the opposition shown to it by shopkeepers in the larger centres was not noticeable, to any great extent, here. Shop and office owners accepted the inevitable with a good grace, attributable, no doubt, to the good feeling existing between themselves and their employees. Overtime warrants have been granted to 10 shipowners for 57 adult males to work 1,132 Hours, and 25 females to work 80 hours. There ha? been one prosecution during the year. Labour. The year has been a good one for tradesmen of all classes. At times the supply has not been equal to the demand. Work for first-class tradesmen in the building line is still plentiful, and will be for some considerable time to come. Large and expensive buildings for freezing and othei works are being erected, while many residences are to be bulit. There is also a good prospect that the building-trade hands will find considerable employment on the lands lately thrown open for selection. Unskilled labourers that really wanted to work have also had a good year, the local men being particularly fortunate, judging by the few applications for employment that have been made to this office and the difficulty experienced m getting men for co-operative railways and road-works. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. There has been some little friction with employers affected by awards and industrial agreements. In the greater number of cases carelessness on the part of employers was the cause of breaches. Employers generally are now observing the conditions of the various awards and agreements, and I am pleased to say that many of the unions see the necessity of acting in a more conciliatory spirit towards employers than they have done hitherto, the result being that all concerned are working in harmony. There were 75 cases brought before the Court of Arbitration ; judgment was given against the respondents in 68 cases, and 7 were dismissed, with costs allowed against the Department in three of them. Skrvants' Registry Offices. There are three licensed registry offices, all of which are well conducted. In conclusion, I have again the pleasure of informing you that this district is progressing in a satisfactory manner, and that, with the completion of the roads to the lakes, springs, and other beauty-spots, not a great distance from this town, still greater progress may be expected. I have, &c, W. J. Blake, Inspector. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington.

DANNEVIRKE. Sir, — Police-station, Dannevirke, Bth April, 1905. I beg to submit for your information and consideration my annual report for the period anding the 31st March, 1905. Factories Act. There are 73 factories and workrooms registered this year, employing 482 males and 35 females (total 517), against 66 last year, employing 407 males and 25 females (total 432), an increase in factories, &c, of 7, males 75, females 10 (total 85). Ten permits have been issued to young persons to work in factories —9 boys and 1 girl. Two have passed Standard IV., 5 Standard V., and 3 Standard VI. Be overtime: Little overtime has been worked here. Ten women worked 40 hours' overtime under permit at dressmaking. Sawmilling is the principal industry in this district. Twenty-six sawmills were registered, employing 243 men. The latter number includes only those actually employed in the mill, and not the bushmen and others, who are more than double that number. Three accidents occurred in sawmills; all were serious. One case, right arm, right leg, left leg and thigh were broken by a tree rebounding. One case, all fingers of left hand exit off about iii-H. 11.

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