H.—ll.

There were also submitted for verification 329,947 bottles—milk, cream, or oil. In addition to the reverification work referred to, the Department has carried out surprise tests of appliances on the owner's premises; the net-weight and standard-weight provisions of the regulations also receiving attention. There were 11 prosecutions for various breaches under this Act, convictions being obtained in nine cases, and fines amounting to £14 being imposed. Verification fees earned totalled £9,525 ss. 9d. (previous year, £9,041); increase, £484 ss. 9d. During the year the following twenty-eight new designs of weighing and measuring instruments were submitted under clause 4, Part 11, of the regulations, for approval for use for trade in the Dominion, viz.: — Weighing— Self-indicating (counter and platform) scales . . . . 13 Automatic weighing-instruments . . . . . . 2 Overhead track weighing-instrument .. . . .. 1 Measuring— Subdivided capacity measures .. .. .. 2 Flow-meters (petrol) . . . .. . . 5 Non-subdivided measures .. .. . . . . 4 Semi-automatic milk filling and measuring instrument .. .. 1 28 Of these, 18 have been approved after modification, 9 are still under consideration, and 1 has been rejected as not complying with the Weights and Measures Act and Regulations. Inspections were again made during the year to ensure that the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act relating to the weight of bread and the provisions of the AVeights and Measures Regulations relating to the sale of coal, coke, and firewood were being complied with, resulting in 3 prosecutions (all in respect of short-weight bread). These prosecutions are included in the figures given in the second paragraph above. LEAD PROCESS REGULATIONS. These regulations are framed to protect workers from the danger of lead poisoning in factories where lead paints are manufactured or prepared, and also in places where painting operations are carried on. Four cases of suspected lead poisoning were reported during the year, and in one case the portion of the factory dealing with lead process was condemned by the Health Department and new premises were constructed. The regulations are generally being well observed. Particular attention is being paid by Inspectors to the working conditions of employees in premises where spray guns are being operated. TAILORING TRADE REGULATIONS. These regulations were gazetted in 1925 to prevent the misuse of such expressions as " tailor made " and " hand made " as applied to garments/ made to measure, some of which a,re made partly by machine process. In several instances factory-made garments were found to be incorrectly described in advertisements and warnings were issued. Proceedings were not considered necessary. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE. The nineteenth session of the International Labour Conference met on 4th June, 1935, New Zealand being represented by a delegation consisting of two Government representatives, one employers' representative, and one workers' representative. Reports of the delegation were presented last session while the draft conventions and recommendations adopted by the Conference will be tabled this session. These were:— 1. Draft Convention (No. 45) concerning the employment of women on underground work in mines of all kinds. 2. Draft Convention (No. 46) limiting hours of work in coal-mines (revised 1935). 3. Draft Convention (No. 47) concerning the reduction of hours of work to forty a week. 4. Draft Convention (No. 48) concerning the establishment of an international scheme for the maintenance of rights under invalidity, old-age, and widows' and orphans' insurance. 5. Recommendation (No. 45) concerning employment among young persons. 6. Draft Convention (No. 49) concerning the reduction of hours of work in glass-bottle works. In respect of the twentieth session a delegation from New Zealand has also been arranged, subjects for discussion being:— (i) The regulation of certain special systems of recruiting workers. (ii) Holidays with pay. (iii) Reduction of hours of work on public works undertaken or subsidized by Governments; in the building and civil engineering industry; in iron and steel works; in coal-mines; in the textile industry. (iv) Safety provisions for workers in building construction with reference to scaffolding and hoisting machinery, (v) Revision of Minimum Age Conventions by raising minimum age to fifteen years.

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