17

H.—ll

months ago, each with an approximate area of 190 square yards, were selected, and the following results are now shown : —

It was found that zinc compound, in comparison with ordinary white-lead, is heavier to work, takes longer to apply, and is harder on the brushes, but for durability in white work zinc compound is, so far as the test has gone, regarded as superior ; it remains to be seen whether this will be maintained, and whether the advantages, including the fact that lead is not used in this material, are sufficient to fully compensate for the extra cost. Regarding normal sulphate of lead, a test was commenced about six months ago alongside the houses above mentioned. Unfortunately, no record lias been kept of the amount used, nor of the cost of labour and material; it was found, however, that paint containing normal sulphate of lead is harder to work than ordinary white-lead, but is slightly superior as regards durability; zinc compound is, however, apparently superior in durability to both carbonate and sulphate of lead. TAILORING TRADE REGULATIONS. It was stated in last year's report that manufacturers and workers engaged in the making of garments to measure under the tailoring trade awards and agreements (order tailoring) had been pressing for legislation respecting the sale of chart and other garments made to measure under the factory trade awards and agreements, it being claimed that by reason of the greater amount of handwork better value is given to the public by the former, while the public are frequently misled by those engaged in the latter trade into believing that the garments supplied are tailor-made ; the distinction said to exist between the two classes of goods is that the one is largely hand-made work while the other is largely machine-made. The question was investigated, and in order to arrive at the actual points of difference between the two conflicting interests a conference of representatives of these interests was, on your instructions, called, and presided over by myself ; the representatives included workers as well as employers. The questions at issue presented considerable difficulty, but, except in respect of one item mentioned below, an agreement was reached, and regulations were gazetted accordingly on the 16th February.* The chief provisions are (1) that requiring that before a garment may be described as " tailor-made " the essential operations as specified in the regulations shall be performed by hand, and, where done by employees, shall be carried out under the conditions of employment set out in the current tailoring trade award or industrial agreement in the locality ; (2) that a garment that is described as " hand-made " shall be entirely made by hand ; and (3) that in any establishment where both " tailor-made" and other garments to measure are sold, the purchaser of one of the latter garments shall be informed that it is not " tailor-made," and the onus shall lie on the seller to prove that the purchaser was so informed. The last provision was inserted in lieu of that proposed by some of the delegates (and which was the item not agreed on), viz., that garments that were not " tailor-made " should bear a label to that effect. Immediately on the gazetting of the regulations notices' calling attention to them were issued to the manufacturers and dealers concerned throughout the Dominion. FAMILY ALLOWANCES. This subject continued during the year to receive attention in Europe, and the publications in America in 1924 indicate that investigators of economic and social subjects in the United States were also devoting much thought to the question. So far as can be gathered, the system has been instituted only in some of the European countries, such as Holland, Belgium, France, and Germany ; it is, moreover, on a voluntary basis, except that legislation has recently been passed in France making it compulsory in certain State services. There does not, however, appear to be a system of minimum wages in these countries as in Australia and

* Under the Board of Trade Act.

3—H. 11.

Cost of House. Painted with Condition. Base j ia bour. , Total. Labour, j Material. I I - Hours. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. No. 1 Three coats white- Good, though 128 lb. .. 84 9 2 2 3 19 1 13 1 3 lead (carbonate slightly inof lead) cl i n e d to rub off No. 2 One coat com- Good .. 881b. zinc com- 90 9 15 3 5 13 3 15 8 6 pound zinc, two pound, 24 lb. coats carbonate lead (112 lb. of lead in all) No. 3 Three coats zinc Good .. 1091b. .. 94 10 3 10 5 18 0 16 1 10 compound