21

H.—ll

Tlie International Labour Office proposes, however, to continue its endeavours to make a comparison that will be of interest and use to Governments, employers, and workers, and suggests that the competent statistical authorities should collaborate with that office by examining the possibility of extending the comparisons to cover other industries as well as the four already mentioned, by supplying, where necessary, information with regard to the numbers of workers in the different occupations, and considering the selection in each country of the towns in which the wages are the most representative; information regarding other items of food, fuel, and light, clothing, and other commodities, which will allow of an extension of the price-level unit, is also desired. PUBLICATIONS. During the year the usual annual " Book of Awards " containing the decisions of the Court of Arbitration and other matters under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was issued ; also a pamphlet explanatory of the Workers' Compensation Act and a reissue of the " Precis of the Labour Laws of New Zealand generally." STAFF NOTES. The staff of the Department now totals 116, and is composed as follows : Head Office —Administrative, 3 ; clerical, 16. District offices—lnspection, 53 ; clerical, 36 ; Conciliation Commissioners, 3 ; anil Court of Arbitration (members and staff) 5. In addition some 180 other persons, mostly officers of other Departments, give part-time services as agents in small towns. The Inspectors include experts in scaffolding-erection and building-construction, in the manufacture and use of weights and measures and mechanical appliances as used in factories, and also in the composition of footwear. EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR. Salaries, cost-of-living bonus, temporary clerical assistance, allowance to officers performing £ higher duties, and allowance to police and other officers acting as departmental agents . . 30,016 Advertising and publications .. . . .. .. . . .. .. 366 Fares, board and lodging, &c., advanced to persons proceeding to employment (see refunds below) . . . . .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 248 Fees paid to assessors of Industrial Councils .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,053 Legal and witnesses' expenses (see refunds below) . . .. .. .. .. 230 Postage, telegrams, telephones, and rent of letter-boxes .. .. .. .. .. 1,675 Printing and stationery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,123 Office requisites, fuel, and lighting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 717 Travelling-allowances and expenses of Inspectors, members of Court of Arbitration, Conciliation Councils, &c., bicycles, motor-cycles, and motor-cars, and maintenance thereof .. 7,742 Upkeep of departmental residence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Miscellaneous expenditure — £ Arbitration Court and Conciliation Councils .. .. .. .. 54 General . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 555 609 Rent and rates on office accommodation .. .. . . . . .. .. 1,070 Hygrometers and thermometers for experiments regarding the health of factory workers .. 170 47,030 Less refunds — Fares.. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 233 Legal and witnesses' expenses . . .. .. .. . . 69 From State Advances Department for services of officers in connection with workers' dwellings .. . . .. .. .. 500 Travelling - expenses recovered from defendants in cases taken by Department and from persons to whom weights and measures services were rendered . . .. . . .. .. 270 From Government Statistician for services of officers .. .. 200 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 285 1,557 £45,473 The above figures do not include a number of items for which provision for payment is made elsewhere than in the Department's vote —viz., salaries of Judge and members of Court of Arbitration (£3,430), messenger services, cleaning, &c.