n.—ii

A worker in a sawmill received fatal injuries when a stack of timber of the rack type fell upon him. The collapse of the stack was considered to be due principally to the timber forming the support frame having rotted at the base. n . l A worker in a sawmill was assisting in rolling a log down from the skids to the sawbench and was walking ahead of it towards the bench when the handle of a jack caught in his trousers and tripped him up. The log rolled on to his body inflicting fatal injuries. While a worker in a sawmill employed at the head of the breaking-down bench was moving the bench forward to cut a log which was overhanging the bench he was caught between one of the roof supports and the overhanging portion of the log and crushed to death. A worker engaged on a machine for stamping out heel-protectors had a finger of his right hand crushed between the plunger and the shaper. Tetanus supervened.. A worker engaged on machinery repairs was assisting to hoist a coil. The derrick used for the purpose collapsed, striking the worker, with fatal results. The following fatal accidents to persons other than " workers " within the meaning of that term as defined by the Workers' Compensation Act were reported The manager of a sawmill was engaged in supervising the lowering of a log down a chute into the mill when the log jammed in the chute. An endeavour was made to draw the log down by means of a winch, but immediately the winch was started the log came off the chute and struck the manager a fatal blow in the abdomen. . The owner of a small mill who was engaged on his own property cutting timber with a circular saw had just finished cutting a length of timber when the piece which he had left on the bench came in contact with the saw and, flying up, struck him on the head with fatal results. The manager of a dairy factory was standing on a platform emptying bags of sugar into a vat of boiling water when the platform collapsed, precipitating him into the boiling water. Inspections, etc. During the year visits of inspection to the number of 3,815 were made, in the course of which wages-books were examined to see that the provisions of the Unemployment Act, 1930, and its amendments, had been complied with in respect of the deduction of the emergency unemployment charge. Prosecutions numbered 27, in 22 of which convictions were obtained ; the fines totalled £26. No case calls for comment. Complaints were received respecting 231 alleged breaches of the Act, resulting in 19 prosecutions and 132 warnings. In 63 cases investigation showed that no breach had been committed, while in the remaining cases no action was considered necessary. Eight prosecutions were instituted for breaches which were discovered by Inspectors, and warnings were given in other cases, being either first offences or of a minor nature. , ; There were 278 requisitions served to comply with various requirements of the Act, such as for limewashing ; safeguards for workers employed on machinery, &c. ; sanitary conveniences ; fireescapes ; renovations and structural alterations ; heating-appliances ; ventilation; first-aid appliances ; and dining-rooms in the case of establishments employing over six women and girls and boys under sixteen.

Boys and Girls in Factories. Certificates of Fitness issued to Boys and Girls under Sixteen Years of Age to work in Factories.

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT. The records stow 25,744 shops throughout New Zealand, of which 13,519 (approximately onehalf) were carried on without assistants. In the shops with assistants there were employed 18,878 males and 16,663 females. . During the year visits of inspection to the number of 5,922 were made, m the course of winch wages-books were examined to see that the provisions of the Unemployment Act, 1930, and its amendments had been complied with in respect of the deduction of the emergency unemployment charge Prosecutions numbered 109, in which 102 convictions were obtained ; fines, £97 15s. Complaints were received respecting 839 alleged breaches of the Act, resulting in 66 prosecutions and 493 warnings. In 249 cases investigation showed that no breach had been committed, while m the remaining cases no action was considered necessary. Forty-three prosecutions were instituted for breaches which were discovered by Inspectors, and warnings were given in other cases, being either first offences or of a minor nature. Twenty-seven requisitions were served on occupiers of shops to comply with various requirements of the Act, such as for sanitary conveniences, heating-appliances, seating-accommodation, and partitions.

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Year. Boys. Girls. Total. Year. Boys. Girls. Total. 1916-17 •• 1,158 1,251 2,409 1929-30 .. .. 1,077 1,746 2,823 1930-31 .. .. 655 1,059 1,714 1926-27 .. 1,199 1,547 2,746 1931-32 ... .. 420 843 1,263 1927-28 .. .. 1,030 1,614 2,644 | 1932-33 .. .. 509 1,067 1,576 1928-29 .. .. 981 1,603 2,584 1933-34 .. .. 510 1,283 1,793