H.—ll

21

subject of white-lead, it was repeatedly stated that painters suffer rather from the action of diluting mediums, and in particular from that of turpentine, than from the action of white-lead itself. Attention should be drawn to the frequent use of products from the fractional distillation of crude petroleum or white spirit. These products are none other than a very poisonous mixture of hydrocarbons, with such a disagreeable smell that at times it is found necessary to counteract it by adding to these spirits strong-smelling substances (nitro-benzine). Tetraline has also beenTadduced as the cause of the injury." The report goes on to say, however, that " When paints and varnishes were prepared with turpentine of a superior quality, cases of poisoning caused by this substance did not exceed 2 per cent, of the total cases of sickness amongst painters, and they most frequently appeared as forms of dermatitis. The gravity of the injury depends, according to the research undertaken by Poincare, on the quality of the turpentine used." The report also mentions the conclusions arrived at by several other authorities—viz., that the effects of turpentine are totally different from those of white-lead, and do not bear even a " faint resemblance " to the lead colic found amongst painters. The Norman Committee further stated in its report " that the statistical data at our disposal tended to show that turpentine as a serious agent in the production of chronic painters' illness was not to be compared with white-lead and the other lead compounds used in paint." Its final conclusions were that " there is not sufficient ground to warrant us in accepting the view that turpentine poisoning is the cause of the leading symptoms commonly attributable to either acute or chronic lead poisoning, nor in attributing to the inhalation of the fumes of turpentine and other thinners the occurrence of Bright's disease." TAILORING TRADE REGULATIONS. These regulations were gazetted in 1925 to prevent the misuse of such expressions as " tailormade " and " hand-made " as applied to garments made to measure, some of which are made partly by machine process. During the year five complaints of alleged breaches of the regulations were received ; in only two cases, however, was there evidence of a breach of the regulations. Prosecutions followed, and fines amounting to £4 10s. were imposed. STAFF NOTES. The staff of the Department totals 137, and is composed of—Head Office : Administration, 5 ; clerical, 18. District offices : Inspection, 62 ; clerical, 45. Conciliation Commissioners, 2 ; Court of Arbitration (members and staff), 5. In addition, about 180 persons act as part-time agents in the small towns. EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR. Salaries, temporary clerical assistance, allowance to officers performing higher duties, and £ allowance to police and other officers acting as departmental agents .. .. 39,599 Advertising and publications .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 220 Fares, board and lodging, &c., advanced to persons proceeding to employment (see refunds below) .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 500 Fees paid to assessors on Conciliation Councils . . . . . . . . . . . . 912 Industrial Conference, expenses of . . . . . . . . . . 3,587 Legal and witnesses' expenses (see refunds below) . . . . . . .. . . 91 Postage, telegrams, telephones, and rent of letter-boxes .. .. .. .. 1,874 Printing and stationery . . .. . . . . . . . . . , 2,464 Purchase of standard weights and measures (see page 19) . . . . . . 1,084 Office requisites, freight, fuel, and lighting .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,150 Rent and rates on office accommodation . . .. . . . . . . 2,491 Travelling allowances and expenses of Inspectors, members of Court of Arbitration, Conciliation Commissioners, assessors on Conciliation Councils, &c., bicycles, motor-cycles, and motorcars, and maintenance thereof . . . . . . .. .. 8,892 Upkeep of departmental residence .. . . . . . . . . .. . . 12 Miscellaneous expenditure— £ Court of Arbitration and Conciliation Councils . . . . . . . . 22 General .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 Weights and Measures Act .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 — 83 62,959 Less refunds — £ Fares .. .. .. .. .. • • .. .. 479 Legal and witnesses' expenses .. . . .. .. .. 75 Sale of publications . . . . . . . . .. . . 163 Travelling-expenses, &c., recovered from defendants in cases taken by Department and from persons to whom weights and measures services were rendered .. .. .. .. .. .. 969 From Government Statistician, for services of officers .. .. .. 210 Miscellaneous .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 170 2,066 £60,893 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 (£3,490), messenger services, cleaning, &c.