H.—ll.

the adoption of regulations governing the use of such apparatus for the present, as occupiers have already taken special precautionary measures. Instructions dealing with the methods to be adopted to remove dust or vapour arising have, however, been issued to all Inspectors. The safeguard is found to be best secured by using a spray booth or compartment in which the operator works. Exhaust fans are also necessary to remove the solid particles or vapour to the outside air. Proper provision should also be made for the storage of paints and pyroxylin finishes in a building separate from that in which the work is carried on. A Lead Paint (Protection against Poisoning) Act was passed last year by the British Parliament. The measure provided for the making of regulations similar to those in New Zealand. It is of interest to note that the British Parliament has not ratified the Geneva Convention of 1921 which proposed the ultimate prohibition of the use of lead paints for interior work. It might be mentioned that Lord Burnham, who presided over the International Labour Conference in 1921, stated during the discussion of the Bill in the British House of Lords that the question at the Geneva Conference became a contest between the lead-producing and lead-using countries and the zinc-producing and zinc-using countries. The question of prohibiting the use of white-lead has apparently not made headway in other countries during the year. In the previous two annual reports of this Department it was stated that endeavours were being made by means of tests instituted by the Department in New Zealand to discover whether there were any substitutes for carbonate of lead that might be regarded as non-poisonous. The latest inspection of the cottages on which the tests were carried out showed the condition of the materials applied to the walls to be as follows :—

These tests were instituted for the express purpose of testing the values of the two kinds of paint. The houses which were painted adjoined one another. As shown above, the latest inspection discloses that the white-lead is proving more durable than the zinc compound. Indeed, in the case of the cottage painted solely with zinc compound the indications, after three years, are that for all practical purposes the paint is of no further utility as a protection against the climatic conditions. TAILORING TRADE REGULATIONS. During the year only two complaints were received that the regulations were not being complied with. In one case it was found that no breach had occurred, while in the other sufficient evidence could not be obtained to warrant a prosecution. While the general opinion of many concerned is that the regulations have had the desired effect of preventing the misuse of such expressions as " tailor-made " and " hand-made " when applied to garments that are made to measure, a number of those engaged in the order-tailoring trade contend that a good deal of misrepresentation to the public still takes place inasmuch as the regulations do not apply to ready-to-wear garments described as tailor-made or hand-made. They therefore urge the extension of the regulations to the latter classes of goods. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE. The reports issued by the International Labour Office during the years 1926-27 give the following information : — The International Labour Conference held its eighth session at Geneva from the 26th May to the sth June, 1926, and the ninth session from the 7th to the 24th June. The agenda of the eighth session was a short one, and related to the inspection of emigrants on board ship. The ninth session, in June, 1926, was entirely devoted to questions affecting the employment of seamen. The two subjects dealt with were the international codification of rules relating to seamen's articles of agreement, and the inspection of conditions of work of seamen. A draft convention was passed on the first question, and two recommendations were adopted in connection with the second subject. The 10th session of the International Labour Conference was to open in Geneva on the 25th May, 1927. The following questions were placed by the governing body on the agenda of the conference : (1) Sickness insurance in employment ; (2) freedom of association ; (3) minimum wage-fixing machinery in trades in which organization of employers and workers is defective and where wages are exceptionally low, with special reference to home working trades.

.3—H. 11.

17

Condition. =T e Painted with iSSSmSI No ' Jane, 1926 March, 1927 Painting. (end of fifteen months). (end of three years). | i I £ 9. d. ] Three coats white-lead (carbonate of lead) | Good, but slightly inclined Paint is chalking, but is 13 1 3 to rub off not cracked or peeling ; colour good 2 One coat zinc compound upon two coats Good .. .. Paint cracking and colour 15 8 0 carbonate of lead fading 3 Three coats zinc compound .. ., Good .. .. Very bad condition; paint lfi 1 10 cracked badly'and peeling off, colour fading