H.—ll.

A worker in a sawmill when clearing logs from the skids failed to chock two logs at the top of the skids. Whilst a hook was being affixed to one of the logs which had already been hauled a distance of some 13 ft., the remaining log rolled down the skids, inflicting fatal injuries to the worker. A worker engaged on an automatic digger and loader was undercutting a stack of phosphate when, without warning, the face collapsed on him, completely burying him. His head and shoulders were uncovered in about three minutes, but he died on the way to the hospital. A freezing-works employee engaged in cleaning casings slipped and fell on to the concrete floor, sustaining internal injuries which later proved fatal. A lorry-driver at a freezing-works during the course of his employment suffered a small puncture on his left hand. Blood-poisoning supervened, resulting in the death of the worker two days later. A man was crushed at a sawmill when timber fell off a truck as a result of it being stopped suddenly while being eased down a bank per medium of a wire rope. INSPECTIONS, ETC. During the year visits of inspection to the number of 15,654 were made. Complaints were received respecting 450 alleged breaches of the Act, resulting in 9 prosecutions and 260 warnings. In 129 cases investigation showed that no breach had been committed, while in the remaining cases no action was considered necessary. Eleven 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. Convictions were secured in 17 of the 20 prosecutions ; the tines totalled £26 10s. No case calls for comment. There were 776 requisitions served to comply with various requirements of the Act, such as for lime-washing, safeguards for workers employed on machinery, &c., -sanitary conveniences, fireescapes, renovations and structural alterations, heating-appliances, ventilation, spray-booths in duco work, first-aid appliances, and dining-rooms in the case of establishments employing over six women and girls and boys under sixteen ; also provision of drinking-water. Boys and Girls in Factories.

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

Lead Processes. Regulations designed to protect workers from the danger of lead poisoning in factories wliere lead paints are manufactured or prepared and also in places where painting operations are carried on have existed since 1925, while, for many years, the Department has required certain safeguards in regard to the use of paint-spraying apparatus, the standard insisted upon being as laid down by internal instructions to Inspectors. This latter matter was reviewed during the year, the representatives of workers and employers as well as Inspectors of Factories and officers of the Health Department being consulted. As a result, regulations have been issued prescribing the duties both of occupiers of factories, also of persons employed therein (the Spray Painting Regulations 1940, Serial number 1940/83, dated 14th May, 1940). These regulations make provision for the type and construction of spray-booths, for the ventilation and illumination thereof, and for the conditions to be observed in the use of booths, also in the premises and storage areas generally. Regulations to cover factories where electric accumulators are manufactured are under consideration. Rules relating to bronzing-work in the printing industry have been in operation since 1917, and these have received attention. At the request of the workers' organization a special inspection of printing establishments was commenced in January, 1939, with the object of checking the observance of these rules as well as the matter of lead fumes and dust, lighting and sanitary conditions also receiving attention. This work was completed during the financial year covered by this report, requisitions having been served as necessary.

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Year. Boys. Girla. Total. J 1916-17 .. .. 1,158 1,251 2,409 1926-27 .. .. 1,199 1,547 2,746 1927-28 .. .. 1,030 1,614 2,644 1928-29 .. .. 981 1,603 2,584 1929-30 .. .. 1,077 1,746 2,823 1930-31 .. .. 655 1,059 1,714 1931-32 .. .. 420 843 1,263 1

[ Year. Boys. Girls. | Total. 1932-33 .. .. 509 1,067 1,576 1933-34 .. .. 510 1,283 1,793 1934-35 .. .. 791 2,011 2,802 1935-36 .. .. 1,026 1,964 2,990 1936-37 .. .. 1,890 2,572 4,462 1937-38 .. .. 1,881 2,135 4,016 1938-39 .. .. 1,830 2,320 4,150 1939-40 .. .. 2,139 2,407 4,546