H.—ll.

Retail Hours for oil-j?uel Establishments The regulations of April, 1940 (see 1940 report), which enabled the Minister to issue directions as to the hours that establishments engaged in the sale by retail of oil fuel be opened and closed were replaced by the Oil Fuel Retail Hours Emergency Regulations (No. 2) 1940 (Serial number 1940/327). Closing-orders may be issued by the Minister of Labour on receipt of a requisition in writing signed by not less than two-thirds of the sellers by retail of oil fuel in any area or locality, and he may also exempt any premises from the closing provisions to ensure supplies being available at the normal retail price. The principal variations provided for in the new regulations are the introduction of requirements as to advertising so that persons affected may have notice of the proposals, also the establishment of a right of appeal for total or partial exemption from the provisions of any closingorder on the grounds of undue hardship. The number of orders made to 30th April, 1941, under these regulations is twenty-six, and the number actually in operation is twenty-three. The areas covered by orders include the four main centres and the secondary towns of Rotorua, Tauranga, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Timaru, and Invercargill. Lower Hutt and Petone are included in the Wellington area. A number of the smaller centres and country districts are also covered. The hours of operation for oil-fuel establishments are, generally speaking, from 7.30 or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (in Christchurch, 7 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.). In the cities and larger centres provision is made for the exemption of one or more establishments which are, by virtue of their having been exempted, required by the regulations to provide a continuous service. In some of the smaller centres the orders provide for service stations to rotate in order that one station shall remain open after hours to provide urgent requirements ; in others urgent supplies may be obtained on the written authority of a police-officer. Universal Half-holiday. In those districts where the half-holiday for shops is fixed by resolution of the local authority (or in the absence of a resolution by decision of the Minister of Labour) the days fixed in 1941 were— mid-week holiday, 47 urban districts and 86 rural districts (previous year 49 and 88), and Saturday holiday, 110 urban districts and 51 rural districts (previous year 104 and 50). There were four half-holiday polls in connection with the 1941 local-body elections, the results being for a mid-week holiday one and for a Saturday holiday three, the days previously observed being all mid-week. Of the polls taken to date twenty-four have been in favour of a mid-week holiday and sixty-three in favour of a Saturday holiday. Haibdressing Schools, Consequent upon the provision contained in the Shops and. Offices Amendment Act, 1936, prohibiting the payment of premiums by or in respect of shop-assistants or learners unless the shop is approved as a school for learners in a trade or business by the Chief Inspector of Factories, and the payment is made pursuant to a written agreement approved by the Chief Inspector, the following summary of the number of schools, and the number of agreements approved is given : — Schools Agreements approved. approved. 1936-37 .. .. .. .. .. ..14 10 1937-38 .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 35 1938-39 .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 116 1939-40.. .. .. .. .. ..15 111 1940-41 .. .. .. .. .. ..24 118 78 390 Of the 78 approved, 36 have allowed their approvals to lapse. INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. Awards of the Court of Arbitration .. .. ... .. 165 (last year 112). The awards and industrial agreements actually in force on the 31st March, 1941, total 528 (last year, 526). Of the 165 awards made during 1940-41, 137 were issued by the Court itself and 28 by the Stipendiary Magistrate acting as delegate of the Court. The Court also issued 3 apprenticeship orders and 105 miscellaneous documents (interpretations, enforcements, &c.), while the Stipendiary Magistrate issued 7 apprenticeship orders and 67 miscellaneous documents. Work performed by Commissioners and Councils of Conciliation. Industrial agreements made under the Act .. .. 22 (last year 39). Disputes where recommendations were substantially accepted or agreements reached and referred to the Court to make awards 95 (last year 64). Disputes where partial settlement was arrived at and referred to the Court to make awards . . .. .. 53 (last year 74).

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