H.-Il

10

SERVANTS' REGISTRY OFFICES ACT. There are eighty-eight offices registered in New Zealand —a decrease of five. The usual visits of inspection were made during the year to see that the Act is generally complied with. RENT RESTRICTION. There were 170 applications received from tenants for inquiry (previous 270). The following table shows the results of the investigations (the figures in parentheses are those for the previous year) : —

In addition to tlie above, two cases were not completed at the end of the year. From the following table it will be noticed that during the last three years there has been a considerable reduction in the mimber of applications received from tenants for inquiry :— Year. Number of Applications. 1926-27 .. .. .. .. .. .. 551 1927-28 ... .. .. .. .. .. 345 1928-29 .. .. .. .. .. .. 270 1929-30 .. .. .. .. .. ..170 From the Ist May, 1928, the Kent Restriction Continuance Act, 1927, provided (1) that the standard shall be determined on the basis of 7 per cent, on the capital value of the dwellinghouse as at the date of such determination (instead of on the 1914 value), exclusive of rates, insurance, repairs, and depreciation (as before) ; (2) that the Act shall cease to operate except where, on the application of the tenant, a Magistrate otherwise orders ; in deciding the question the Magistrate shall have regard to the greater hardship that may be caused to either party concerned. By the Rent Restriction Continuance Act, 1929, the provisions were further continued until the Ist August, 1930. These provisions will then expire unless further extended. FOOTWEAR REGULATION ACT. There were 4,176 general inspections made throughout the Dominion under this Act, and stocks of footwear were carefully examined. There was 1 prosecution. As most of the footwear required to be branded under the Act is imported, the arrangements made with the Customs Department have been continued by which all imported footwear is promptly examined in the Customs-shed before being released.

„ , . , . , -r, , Number in which Rents Number m which Rents demanded were deemed -r ♦ i xr demanded were reduced. justified. Number in Total Number _L which no Applications. T . At instance of By Department P^ings ri t .» e Pf rt ™ eIlt without reference taken '* Court, without reterence Court. . n , , , to Ccurt. to Court. Auckland .. .. 9 (35) .. 3 .. 2 4 Wellington .. 109 (174) 7 15 7 20 60 Christchurch 22 (16) .. 8 .. 8 6 Dunedin :. .. 9 (24) .. 8 . . .. 1 Hamilton . . 1 . . 1 Gisborne Napier .. .. 8 (10) .. 3 .. 5 Masterton .. .. 1 (3) .. .. .. .. 1 New Plymouth Wanganui Palmerston North .. 1(1) • • 1 Nelson Greymouth .. 2 (2) .. .. .. .. 2 Timaru .. .. 6 (2) .. .. .. 3 3 Oamaru . . 2 . . 1 . . 1 Invercargill .. (3) .. .. 170 (270) | 7 40 7 39 77 * For example, cases found to be outside scope of Act, proceedings not desired by complainant, &c.