H.—ll.

The Inspector of Factories is empowered to act on behalf of any tenant in proceedings under the Act, and the following table indicates the extent to which tenants have availed themselves of the services of the Department's Inspectors : —

The total number of applicants for the previous year was 6,059. The Department investigated 11 alleged breaches of section 15 of the Act, which imposes certain restrictions on the letting or selling of a dwell in ghouse where the landlord has recovered possession on the grounds that the premises are required for his own occupation ; proceedings were taken in 11 instances, convictions being obtained in 8 cases, and penalties amounting to £68 12s. were imposed. FOOTWEAR REGULATION ACT. During the year 271 establishments and 161 shipments were inspected under this Act, the latter in pursuance of the arrangement made with the Customs Department whereby all imported footwear is examined in the Customs shed before release. Inspectors of Footwear also examined footwear made for the Defence Services. 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 47,839 7,253 Measures .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,682 177 Weighing-instruments.. .. .. .. .. 26,820 3,198 Measuring-instruments .. .. .. .. 7,020 1,216 There were also submitted for verification 796,183 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. Each shop inspection included an examination to ascertain that requirements as to reverification have been satisfied, and, in addition, surprise tests of appliances on the owners' premises were made. Inspections were also made covering the regulation requirements as to net weight and standard weight of packages, and the sale of firewood, coke, and coal, also the provisions relating to the weight of bread, including those contained in the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908. Complaints were received respecting 57 alleged breaches of the Act. As a result of the investigation of these and of the check inspections referred to above 32 prosecutions were instituted, fines amounting to £73 10s. being imposed. Of the prosecutions, 12 were in connection with shortweight bread. Prosecutions in connection with short-weight bread have illustrated the necessity for revision of the law. It is an offence under the Weights and Measures Act, 1925, to sell less than the quantity demanded of or represented by the seller, while under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908, every person commits an offence who sells any bread the weight of which at the time of sale is less than the seller represents it to be, or is less than the weight which the buyer demands. The Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908, also provides that every person who sells any loaf weighing at the time of sale less than 4 lb. but more than 3 lb. shall be deemed to represent that it weighs 4 lb. unless he states its true weight to the buyer at the time of sale. In a similar way a loaf that is less than 2 lb. but more than 1 lb. is deemed to be represented to be 2 lb. unless the true weight is disclosed. When this measure was enacted loaves of 2 lb. or 4 lb. were the rule, but in recent years loaves of 1 lb. or less, including loaves of many types and shapes, have been offered in increasing quantities. Because of the variation in the shape of certain loaves, which may involve some slight increase in the cost of baking, many bakers have contended that these loaves are classed as " fancy bread," and thus exempt from the standard-weight provisions. There appears to be no proper grounds to treat any bread of ordinary composition as outside the standard class by reason of any alteration in shape. The

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Agreement under Cases where Fixation of Fair Rent involved and Inspector m nriOT1 f - fltwaaan f tt ,i Section 21. appeared in Court on behalf of Tenant. by rnspcctor in Total Owner's Application. Tenant's Application. 1<jViction Proceedings. Town. Number of /SXf Applications. ° Not Ap- Ba«ie Rent reduced Ca^es. t-chLap proved. Rent Rent below Basic Rent not Cnrttlnn i Q *. Inspector. reduced. justified. " Kent or Fair reduced. Section 13. Section 14. lo. Eent> Auckland.. .. 2,708 1,596 49 35 21 2 34 .. 281 14 676 Wellington .. 1,783 344 . 26 33 18 7 214 15 241 87 798 Christchurch . . 643 306 10 1 56 2 4 1 32 40 191 Dunedin .. .. 278 109 1 3 7 2 1 .. 24 1 130 Other towns .. 801 294 26 6 21 .. 11 8 34 4 396 6,213 2,649 .112 78 123 13 264 24 612 146 2,191 _j_ * These cover cases dealt with by the Department's officers without reference to the Court, in many cases involving considerable reductions in existing rents, or applications which were withdrawn as a result of the tenant vacating the premises, or for other reasons.