H.—ll.

fundamental grounds for special treatment in respect of weight of bread should be that bread should be standard weight unless obviously and analytically different from ordinary bread and whereby reason of the ingredients and/or process of baking the cost of production is increased to such ail extent as to warrant special treatment in regard #o weight. During the year 5 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. : — WeighingPlatform machines (non-self-indicating) .. I Platform machines (personal weigher self-indicating) .. 1 Semi-self-indicating counter scale .. .. 1 Semi automatic (factory use) .. .. .. 1 Measuring-capacity— Lubricating-oil-measuring instrument .. .. 1 5 Of these, 3 wete improvements in existing designs, 1 was approved without alteration, and 1 was approved after modification. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE. The twenty-sixth session of the International Labour Conference, which was convened for the sth June, 1940, was postponed in view of the European situation, it being the expressed intention of the governing body that the session be held at a later date that year. However, no decision has been taken in this connection, though discussions are still proceeding. Events in Europe subsequent to May, 1940, when the postponement decision was taken, rendered necessary the establishment of a working centre outside Geneva, and by courtesy of the Canadian Government the transfer of selected personnel to the McGill University, Montreal, Canada, was effected. Work in Montreal is stated to be well under way, though necessarily on a restricted scale due to staff and budget reductions, but research work has been resumed and publications are being issued. As it was impossible to transfer the library from Geneva it has been necessary for the Department to endeavour to supply duplicates of those New Zealand publications that had been sent to the Office in previous years. Ratification of twenty-two conventions was undertaken by New Zealand in March, 1938, and in September, 1939, ratification of Convention No. 63 concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work adopted by the twenty-fourth session of the International Labour Conference was undertaken. Since then a number of further conventions have been adopted, and it is appropriate that at any rate as soon as normal conditions return consideration be given to the question of ratification of these and also of those conventions which were not included in the ratification instrument of 1938 because of existing variation between New Zealand law and convention requirements or doubt relative thereto. Full reports have been forwarded to the organization on the application of conventions already ratified. EMERGENCY REGULATIONS. Industrial Emergency Council. The Council, which consists of nine representatives of workers and nine representatives of employers, with the Minister of Labour as Chairman, was set up under the Industrial Emergency Council Regulations 1939 (Serial number 1939/66) to inquire into and advise the Minister on any matters arising out of the war emergency and pertaining to his office. There are two sub-committees of the Council—the hours sub-committee and the apprenticeship sub-committee —and a form of procedure has been laid down for adoption where variation of statutory or award provisions is requested. This contemplates full discussion of proposals between employers' and workers' organizations before reference to the Government. Liaison with other emergency bodies is maintained by representation of the Council on the National Service Advisory Council and the National Council of Primary Production. As a result of recommendations, the unanimous decision of the Council, suspension or variation orders have been made in the following industries : — Ammunition-manufacturing: Woollen-milling: Clothing trades : Timber industry (Te Whaiti Mills), also butter-box manufacturing : Cement and asbestos manufacturing : Slipper-manufacturing : Brushware-manufacturing : Defence and emergency works : Shearing industry: Tinsmithing (dairy industry) : Tanning industry : Retail chemists : Cheese-factories. Among the important variations recommended by the Council are those which cover the extension of overtime in factories, additional apprentices to replace those withdrawn for military service, occupational re-establishment of men on return from war service, and Works Efficiency Committees in freezing-works.

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