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 Department investigated 991 alleged infringements of the statute. In 89 cases the investigation showed that 110 infringement had occurred. Court action was taken in 16 cases, fines amounting to £20 being imposed ; convictions were secured in all but 4of the cases. Two of the cases were in respect of letting or selling dwellings within six months without an authorizing order (section 15), 3 for failing to keep a register (Regulation 25, Economic Stabilization Emergency Regulations 1942), and 11 for accepting or demanding rent in excess of basic or fair rent. Warnings were issued in 709 instances. ECONOMIC STABILIZATION EMERGENCY REGULATIONS 1942: STABILIZATION OF RENTS Inspectors of Factories have been appointed as " authorized persons " in terms of the regulations. In this capacity they have dealt with 395 agreements covering increases of rent. Approval was given in 341 cases and declined in 54 cases. Complaints that the regulations had been infringed were received, 83 cases being dealt with. OCCUPATIONAL RE-ESTABLISHMENT The Department has not been called upon to any great extent to administer the provisions of these regulations due principally to the buoyancy of the labour market. Forty-two cases of alleged refusal to reinstate discharged persons were dealt with in 1944-45, as against 50 in the previous year. In 11 cases it was found that no breach had been committed, in 3 instances prosecutions were instituted, 4 cases were dealt with on the basis of payment of sums to the worker by the employer, 1 worker was re-established, and 16 warnings were issued. No action was considered necessary in the remaining cases. Of the 3 prosecutions, 2 were decided against the Department, while the remaining 1 was withdrawn. 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. There have been six meetings of the Council during the year. In addition, the Hours Committee met on nine occasions, the Apprenticeship Committee 011 eleven occasions, and the Guaranteed Minimum Wage Committee on three occasions. The following were among the principal matters dealt with :— (a) Provision by a suspension order for the employment of females eighteen years of age and over as casual workers from 5.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Monday to Thursday each week at a carbon battery factory in Wellington (N.Z. Gazette No. 33, 27th April, 1944, p. 396). (b) Modification of the New Zealand Licensed Hotel Employees' award to provide for the employment of part-time barmen for five days a week (N.Z. Gazette No. 48, Bth June 1944, p. 695). (c) Provision for the employment of casual female employees in the evenings at a canistermanufacturing factory in Wellington (N.Z. Gazette No. 48, Bth June, 1944, p. 696). (d) Re-enactment of a suspension order fixing special conditions for employees of two tobacco factories in Wellington (N.Z. Gazette No. 53, 22nd June, 1944, p. 753). (e) Introduction of shift-work for female workers and boys at a macaroni factory in Timaru (N.Z. Gazette No. 55, 29th June, 1944, p. 839). (/) Re-enactment of a suspension order providing for shift-work by female workers at a Hastings fruit and vegetable canning factory. Shifts to operate all the year round. The original order provided for seasonal operations only (N.Z. Gazette No. 84, 19th October, 1944, p. 1263). (g) Special conditions of shift-work for workers employed in a Wellington factory in the production of mica condensers (N.Z. Gazette No. 95, 7th December, 1944, p. 1492). (h) Introduction of shift-work for females at an Auckland factory engaged in the manufacture of shoe and other classes of laces (N.Z. Gazette No. 23, sth April, 1945, p. 372). THE ANNUAL HOLIDAYS ACT, 1944 This Act was enacted on the 4th April, 1944, to operate as from Ist August following. This timelapse proved a useful interval during which action was taken to enlighten the public as to the full intent of the provisions of the Act. Little difficulty has been experienced in the implementation of this legislation.

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Tenant represented in Cases where Court Eviction Proceedings Agreements under Proceedings for Demand for or Notices to quit. T t , Section 21. Fixation of Fair — Town. Number of Bent involved. Notice to quit Applications. Reference to Tnvnww withdrawn or Court (other abandoned as „ , - than Agreed p a Besult of Approved Not Owner s Tenant's Increases). Inspector's approved. Application. Application. Intervention. Auokland .. 1,950 517 8 71 212 831 303 8 Wellington .. 1,635 231 49 39 229 626 210 251 Christchurch .. 598 198 10 89 36 177 63 25 Dunedin .. 193 43 20 17 3 84 21 5 Other towns .. 819 300 31 29 40 324 44 51 Totals .. 5,195 1,289 118 245 520 2,042 641 340