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Sanitation. I am happy to say that, with close supervision, I am able to cope with this part of my duties in a fairly satisfactory manner without causing much friction. Seevants' Registry-office Keepers. There are three in this town, all well conducted, and I have had no complaints. Permits to Young Persons. Certificates have been issued to fifteen females and fourteen males to work in factories. Shearing-sheds. In my animal visit to the sheds in this district I found with two or three exceptions a very satisfactory state of affairs, they being very well conducted, and the accommodation and food good. Necessary improvements are ordered to be provided before next season. Overtime. Permits have been issued to 78 persons, 17 males and 61 females, who have worked 3,185 hours. The principal part of this has been done by the woollen-factory and dressmakers. In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to all employers and employees for the courtesy and consideration shown to me while in the execution of my various duties. I have, &c, E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. R. S. Bean, Inspector.

TIMARU. Sir, — Department of Labour, Timaru, 13th April, 1906. I have the honour to submit for your information my report for the year ending the 31st March, 1906. It is very pleasing to be able to say that the period just c ded has been most satisfactory, alike to employers and employees. As stated in my last report the majority of factory-owners appear to take a pride in keeping their workrooms clean and tidy, although there is plenty of room for improvement in regard to sanitary arrangements ; but as the Borough Council had a Bill passed through the House last session enabling them to go in for a drainage scheme for the town, I trust it will be pushed ahead, and at least started, if not finished this year. This scheme will enable the great majority of factories to be classed as up-to-date, and I am looking forward to this with interesst. I have to thank the , Health Department for the assistance given me during the year in all matters pertaining to sanitation in both shops and factories. During the year there has been an increase of twenty-seven factories. The number of persons employed is 1,346 —viz., 1,063 males and 282 females—making practically the same number as last year. The amount of overtime worked in factories was 16,449 hours (see return on page ). I may here mention that during the year the frozen meat and wool shipped from this port was as follows : Wool, 35,051 bales ; frozen mutton, 677,144 carcases ; poultry, 847 cases : total tons exported, comprising all kinds of produce (exclusive of wool and frozen mutton) was 78,926 tons, this constituting 'a record year for the Port of Timaru. During the year there have been twenty-six permits issued to young persons to work in factories —sixteen boys and ten girls. With the exception of the appeal case in Supreme Court re the registration of the Timaru Corporation Abattoir, there have been no prosecutions under the Factories Act during the year. The few breaches that I had to deal with I am pleased to say were settled amicably. There have been eleven accidents reported during the year, but I am pleased to report none of them have been of a serious nature. » Shops and Offices Acts, 1904 and 1905. Employers seem to have taken very kindly to these Acts, but, of course, previous to their coming into force the majority of Timaru employers always believed in early closing, and had for years been closing at 6 o'clock. Servants' Registry Offices. There are four licensed offices in the town, and all are well conducted. Shearing-sheds . I have to report having inspected during the year all the shearing-sheds in the large districts of Hakataramea and Kurow. I had to severely reprimand several station-managers for crowding too many men into the huts, and also for not keeping the huts sufficiently clean, and in several instances I was compelled to give the occupiers notice to have the old huts pulled down (they being too dilapidated to repair), and to have new huts erected with more space and better ventilation. I hope by next year to see a great improvement in the buildings in these districts.