11

H.—ll.

owners have received such bonuses. A number of persons wanting houses have offered bonuses by advertisement, and the outgoing tenants have generally been the recipients. A few instances are reported, however, where the new tenants are required to purchase certain articles of furniture before being given possession, and in some of these cases the outgoing tenants are again the recipients. No doubt the most satisfactory manner of meeting this difficulty will be by the Government or municipalities (or both) building as soon as possible a large number of dwellinghouses. For further remarks on this subject see the report on the Workers' Dwellings Act on page 23. The provisions of the Cost of Living and Commercial Trusts Acts might also be extended to cover rents charged by owners of properties. This would be a permanent measure instead of merely a temporary one, and it would, moreover, place rents under a similar restriction to those relating to food. Jp£j We still receive a few complaints that tenants, who are protected by the law as regards their rent, make a practice, of subletting parts of their houses at high rates, thereby actually living rent-free and making a profit. Example: Rent, £1 ss. per week ; rent obtained by subletting part of house, £3 18s. per. week. The subtenants do not in most cases have the protection of the Act unless the rents of the particular rooms in question have been raised beyond 8 per cent, of their capital value since the 3rd August, .1914. In any event, these cases arc difficult to deal with on account of the fact that the subletting of rooms is frequently accompanied by the use of kitchen and washhouse conveniences, lighting, and firing. Cost of Living. Those who are interested in the statistics and figures that were formerly published monthly in the Labour Journal will find the information in the Monthly Abstract published by the Government Statistician. Staff Notes. The return of the troops from the war is enabling the .Department to restore its staff throughout the Dominion to its normal condition. A total of nineteen male officers have been absent on this account out of a total of sixty-three. The resumption of normal conditions will also permit of several additional appointments that have been held over since the beginning of the war, viz.: (1.) Four women Inspectors of Factories, who arc now being appointed, and will commence duties shortly. One will be. stationed in each of the four centres, and as time permits they will visit the various country towns in addition to attending to inspections at headquarters. (2.) An Insvjector of Shearers' and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation, who will devote the whole of his attention to this work. (3.) A departmental Librarian, to establish a library that will comprise labour legislation and other data regarding industrial conditions in the various countries of the world. This officer will be appointed shortly. Expenditure of the Labour Department during the Year. Salaries, war bonus, temporary clerical assistance, allowance to officers performing higher duties, and allowance to police and other officers acting as departmental £ agents* .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19,603 Advertising and publications . . .. . . .. . . .. .. 225 Fares (at reduced rates), board and lodging, &c, advanced to persons proceeding to employment (see refunds of same below) . . .. .. .. . . .. 202 Pares (proportion of) contributed by Department to persons proceeding to employment (viz., 25 per cent, on railway fares) . . . . .. .. 162 Fees paid to assessors of Industrial Councils . . .. .. .. . . .. 1,719 Legal and witnesses' expenses (see refunds of same below) .. . . .. .. 137 Postage, telegrams, telephones, and rent of letter-boxes .. .. .. .. 1,677 Printing and stationery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,718 Office requisites, fuel and lighting .. .. . . . . .. . . . . 363 Travelling allowances and expenses of Inspectors, members of Court of Arbitration, Conciliation Councils, &c, bicycles and motor-cycles, and maintenance of same . . . . 4,846 Workers' dwellings— Administrative and travelling expenses \ nh arffed for in rents and instalmants I 304 bire insurance, rates, and repairs ; { .. J ,814 Miscellaneous expenditure— £ Arbitration Court and Conciliation Councils .. .. .. .. 158 General .. .. .. .. •■ •• •• .. 203 \ 36.1 33,131 Less refunds of— Fares .. .. .. .. • • .. .. 105 Legal and witnesses' expenses .. .. .. .. .. 72 — 177 £32,954

* Exclusive of the salarios of the Judge and members of the Court of Arbitration, £2,800, which are appropriated by apecial Act of Parliament.