H.—ll.

4

Certificates of Fitness issued to Boys and Girls under Sixteen Years of Age to Work in Factories.

The drop shown in 1921-22 was largely due to the employment of a larger proportion of boys than usual during the war and its aftermath. Prosecutions. Prosecutions numbered forty, an increase of nineteen ; four were dismissed. Requisitions for Improvements in Factories. During the year 1,403 requisitions were served to comply with various requirements of the Act, such as lime-washing, safeguards for workers employed on machinery, &c, sanitary conveniences, fireescapes, heating-appliances, ventilation, lighting, first-aid appliances, washing and drinking water, and dining-rooms in the case of establishments employing over six workers. Shops and Offices Act. Prosecutions numbered 186—twelve more than during the previous year ; five were dismissed. During the year 201 requisitions were served on occupiers of shops to comply with various requirements of the Act, such as cleansing, sanitary conveniences, heating-appliances, ventilation, drinking-water, and other safeguards for workers. The amendments of the previous year have, been carried out without friction, except in regard to those establishments in which are carried on the combined business of a marble-bar or restaurant and the sale of confectionery, cakes, and. other edibles demanded in the evenings. The reason for the difficulty is that the Act fixes 10.30 p.m. as the hour of ceasing employment for females and boys in restaurants —that is to say, where food is sold and consumed on the premises—and 9.30 in all. other cases —viz., whore food or any other goods are taken away. Where the combined business is carried, on, therefore, the assistants mentioned must under the provisions of the Act cease work at 9.30, which is too early for the theatre trade. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. 1921-22. 1922-28. Industrial agreements filed. . .. .. .. .. 16 19 Recommendations of Councils of Conciliation . . .. 142 1.46 Awards of the Court of Arbitration .. . . . . .. 150 131 The awards and industrial agreements actually in force on the 31st March, 1923, totalled 569 (last year 548). The continued reduction in the number of awards, agreements, &c, made during the year is accounted for in the same way as last year —viz., by the fact that on the worker's side there was little to expect in the way of increased wages, and on the employer's side the Court's power to adjust wages from time to time to meet the changes in the cost of living by general order generally rendered it useless for employers to apply for a, reduction. From its inception in 1914 to date only twenty-two unions have had disputes (numbering forty-two) dealt with under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, while there are 569 awards and agreements in force under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

Work performed by Commissioners and Councils of Conciliation during the Year.

Year. 1913-14 .. 1914-15 .. 1915-16 .. 1916-17 .. 1917-18 .. I Boys. 932 952 1,100 1,158 1,199 Girls. Total. 1,241 2,173 | 1918-19 1,186 2,088 ■ 1919 20 1,263 2,363 ; 1920-21 1,251 2,409 1921-22 1,236 2,435 1922-23 ) ) I i Year. Hoys. .1,240 1,252 1,267 962 .. 995 Girls. | Total. J 1,333 2,573 1,685 2,937 1,368 2,635 1,286 2,248 1,530 2,525

Commissioners T. Harle Ciles and P. Hally. Commissioner Commissioner T , . W. Newton. W. H. Hagger. 10Ul1 ' Industrial agreements arrived at and filed as such under section 26 by parties through the Commissioner alone Disputes dealt with by Conciliation Councils — Where industrial agreements were filed under section 26 Where recommendations were ully accepted and forwarded to the Court to be made into awards Where recommendations were substantially ac oopted or agreements reached and referred to Court to make awards Where only minor recommendation or no recommendation was made 7 .. 7 3 1 .. 4 (i 22 40 24 27 73 19 5 33 12 22 9 Totals .. .. .. 46 57 _ 54: _ 157