H.—ll.

FOOTWEAR REGULATION ACT. During the year 538 establishments and 88 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 re verification 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 .. .. .. .. .. .. 34,653 6,150 Measures .. .. .. .. .. 3,306 90 Weighing-instruments .. .. .. .. .. 22,949 2,520 Measuring-instruments . . .. . . . . 4,880 706 There were also submitted for verification 795,538 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 65 alleged breaches of the Act. As a result of the investigation of these and of the check inspections referred to above, 50 prosecutions were instituted, fines amounting to £85 being imposed. Of the prosecutions, 21 were in connection with short-weight bread. During the year 10 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. : — WeighingWall beam, double steelyard—approved .. .. .. 1 Platform machine (self-indicating)—uuder action . . .. 1 Crane machine (self-indicating)—approved .. .. .. 1 Counter scale (self-indicating)—approved .. . . . . I Counter scale (self-indicating)—under action . . . . . . 1 Automatic (factory use) —under action . . . . .. 2 Weighbridge (self-indicating with electrical recorder) —approved . . 1 Measuring-capacity— Lubricating oil-measuring instrument —rejected .. .. .. I Measure —rejected . . . . . . . . .. . . .. 1 10 INDUSTRIAL EMERGENCY COUNCIL. This Council was set up soon after the outbreak of war to advise the Minister of Labour on matters relating to the war effort. It has met at regular intervals throughout the year, and Committees of the Council have conducted investigations between the meetings of the full Council. To date' 81 variation orders have been issued. These are published either in the regulations series or in the N.Z. Gazette. The more important matters dealt with in the Orders are as follows :— (1) Occupational reestablishment of men returned from military service : (2) Provision for working shifts : (3) Suspension of apprenticeships whilst on military service : (4) Suspension of provisions of Shops and Offices Act to enable additional overtime to be worked : (5) Extension of ordinary working-hours in certain industries : (6) Reduction of overtime and holiday payments : (7) Provision for suspending holidays by substitution of other days in lieu thereof within six months : (8) Modification of Agricultural Workers Act to enable young persons to be employed on dairy-farms : (9) Provision for employment of female workers to replace men in certain industries : (10) Modification of hours of work in cheese-factories to give increased output: (11) Provision to enable women over twenty-one without experience to be employed in clothing-factories : (12) Provision for employment of female workers on farms : (13) Provision to enable wom'en and boys to be employed in factories on holidays and halfholidays : (14) Authorizing replacement in industry of apprentices in the armed forces. The Council procedure is to give an opportunity to workers' and employers' organizations to bring evidence before it. In making recommendation the Council endeavours to maintain the good will and co-operation of all concerned in carrying out the terms of any variation. Up to the present this has been successfully achieved. With the withdrawal of a large proportion of workers from industry the problems facing the Council have been accentuated, but nevertheless the Council has at all times been willing to give its full attention to any matters coming before it.

12