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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Labour Department

Labour Department.

The Christchurch Branch Of The Labour Department, situated in the Provincial Council Buildings, and entered from Durham Street, is in charge of Mr. John Lomas, Labour Agent and Inspector of Factories. The department sees to the carrying out of the Servants' Registry Office Act, Shearers' Accommodation Act, Shops and Shop Assistants' Act, the Factories' Ac., and other statutes with regard to labour. It also sees that the awards of the Conciliation Board and Arbitration Court are duly carried out, and finds work for the unemployed who apply to it for that purpose.

Mr. J. Lomas, Inspector of Factories and Officer-In-charge of the Labour Department in Christchurch, was born at Disley, Cheshire. He was sent to work at the age of seven, and was employed in the coal mines a year later. His mining experience extended over a period of thirty years, and during the last four or five years of that time he occupied the position of underground manager. Mr. Lomas came to Nelson in 1879, per ship “Opawa.” under [gap — reason: illegible] to the Westport Coal Company. He was employed for nine months at Springfield, and for nine years subsequently at Denniston. In July, 1891, he entered the labour department in Wellington, and two years later was promoted to the charge of the Canterbury district. During his residence on the West Coast, Mr. Lomas was actively connected with the New Zealand Miners' Association, the Colony being a district which is federated with the Amalgamated Miners' Association. He was first president for New Zealand, and the first president of the local branch in Westport for several years. Mr. Lomas was married in 1867, to a daughter of Mr. J. Oragg, of Poynton, Cheshire, and has one son and one daughter.