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SERVANTS' REGISTRY OFFICES ACT. There are sixty-eight offices registered in New Zealand, all of which appear to be satisfactorily conducted (last year sixty-four). RENT RESTRICTION. There were 176 applications from tenants for inquiry (previous year, 278). The following table shows the results of the investigations (the figures in parentheses are those for the previous year) : —

As mentioned in previous reports, tie Kent Restriction Continuance Act, 1927, provided that from the Ist May, 1928 (1) the standard rent 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) 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. Subject to the following paragraph, the provisions do not apply to houses first let after the 9th November, 1920. By the Rent Restriction Extension Act, 1931 (passed 31st July, 1931), the provisions were extended to cover dwellinghouses in the Hawke's Bay earthquake area let on the 3rd February, 1931 (the date of the earthquake), or since 1 that date at a rental not exceeding £104 per annum. The provisions were further continued by the Rent Restriction Act, 1933, until 31st October, 1934, when they will expire unless further extended. FOOTWEAR REGULATION ACT. There were 2,006 inspections made throughout the Dominion under this Act, and stocks of footwear were carefully examined. As most, if not all, of the footwear required to be branded under the Act is imported, the arrangement made with the. Customs Department whereby all imported footwear is examined in the Customs shed before release is still being continued. The services of the Department's footwear Inspectors have also been utilized in examining the boots supplied by the Unemployment Board to relief workers employed under the various unemployment schemes, with a view to ensuring that the manufacturers were complying with the Board's specifications. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT. The regulations under the Act provide for the reverification of weights, measures, and weighing and measuring instruments in use for trade purposes. The articles verified or reverified during the year are summarized hereunder : — Submitted. Incorrect. Weights .. .. 34,221 3,820 Measures .. .. .. .. .. 3,058 66 Weighing-instruments.. .. .. .. .. 22,682 2,473 Measuring-instruments .. .. .. .. 7,027 1,336 66,988 7,695 There were also submitted for verification 269,204 bottles—milk, cream, or oil —128 being incorrect. In addition to the reverification work referred to, the Department has carried out surprise tests of appliances on the owners' premises, 7,746 visits being made to business premises in this connection. The net-weight and standard-weight provisions of the regulations also received attention, 553 visits of inspection being made. There were 18 prosecutions for various breaches under this Act, convictions being obtained in 17 cases, and fines amounting to £14 10s. being imposed. The other case was withdrawn. Verification fees earned totalled £8,715 Bs. Id. (previous year, £8,676 17s. 3d.) ; increase, £38 10s. lOd.

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AT i . i • r, Number m which Rents .Number m which Kenfcs A A A _ A T I l j demanded were deemed demanded were reduced. . .-n A at u • Total Number J ustlfied " Number in which no * r ° At Instance of t> r» + ± Proceedings Applications. By Department By By Department taken .* S Court, without reference Court. W1 P n n re ® rence to Court. toCourt - Auckland .. .. 14 (25) .. 1 .. 7 6 Wellington .. 100 (169) .. 22 .. 51 27 Christchurch .. 51 (61) .. 2 .. 39 10 Dunedin .. .. 2 (1) .. 2 Other towns .. 9 (22) .. 2 .. 4 3 176 (278) .. 29 .. 101 46 . * For example, cases found to be outside scope of Act, proceedings not desired by complainant, &c.