A useful instrument came into being the year with the registration of be!, with the ce-operation of tne Commissioner of Public Works.
Each of the 23 yards registered has undertaken to employ the services of an approved engineer, without whose supervision no boiler will be manufactured. With regular inspection of yards, there is thus assured proper design, the use of attested plate whose numbers are reported when application for permit to manufacture locally is made through the engineer, and proper supervision of the process of manufacture. Within the limits of the manufacturing equipment available in Shanghai, vessels now built in the Settlement are coming to be of better standard, Since the price of tested boiler plate has risen 250 per cent, this achievement at this time can be considered as satisfactory. Twenty-eight permits to manufacture have been issued during the year. of ily, or to spread to other Difficulties in operation Useful to intervene as early as possible in disputes, with a view to preventing stoppage of work if possible, and in strikes, with a view to early tesuription of work.
The mediation services of the Section were used in 89 disputes, In 12, stoppage öf work was avoided by early successful mediation. The loss in 47 of these cases where strikes necumei amounted to 89,408 man-lays.
Comprehensive collective agreements were @rasen tip in seven cases. Management and workers alike begin o see the value of definite and under-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.