H.—ll.

Regulations under the Act were reviewed and brought up to date in November last. This was done after consultation with the employers' and workers' organizations concerned. In particular, safeguards necessary in connection with steel structural buildings and excavation work are provided for. In view of the hazardous nature of the work on buildings and excavation work special attention is given to this branch of the Department's activities. SERVANTS' REGISTRY OFFICES ACT. There are one hundred and seven offices registered in New Zealand (last year eighty-four). No prosecutions were necessary during the year for breach of this statute, and the offices appear to be satisfactorily conducted. RENT RESTRICTION. There were 183 applications from tenants for inquiry (previous year 120). The following table shows the results of the investigations (the figures in parentheses are those for the previous year) : —

As mentioned in previous reports, the Rent 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 Ray earthquake area let on the 3rd February, 1931 (the date of the earthquake), or since that date at a rental not exceeding £104 per annum. The provisions will expire on the 31st October, 1936, unless further extended. Provision for the restriction of increases in the rent of dwellinghouses and for the determination of fair rents is now made in the Pair Rents Act, 1936. FOOTWEAR REGULATION ACT. There were 2,313 inspections made throughout the Dominion under this Act. As most, if not all, of the footwear required to be branded under this 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 were again 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 . . . . . . . . . . 38,548 5,845 Measures . . . . . . . . . . 3,307 92 Weighing-instruments .. .. .. . . 24,360 3,020 Measuring-instruments .. .. .. .. 7,920 1,371 74,135 10,328

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vr, w i • i • i t) , Number in which Rents dumber in which Kenfcs ■, , , j , demanded were reduced. demanded were deemed Total Number justified. Number m whlch no At Instance of K . Proceedings Applications. Department By By Department taken .* S Court, without reference Court, without reference to Court. toCourt - Auckland .. .. 36 (10) .. 6 .. 14 16 Wellington .. 112 (71) .. 28 .. 52 32 Ckristchurch 25 (37) .. 7 1 12 5 Dunedin .. .. 5 (..) .. 4 .. 1 Other towns 5 (2) 1 .. 3 1 183 (120) .. 46 1 82 54 * For example, cases found to be outside scope of Act, proceedings not desired by complainant, &c.