FACTORY LAW IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24899, 12 June 1946, Page 6

FACTORY LAW IN N.Z.

CHANGES PROPOSED REPORTED PROVISIONS OF LEGISLATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 11. Drastic changes in factory law which, to be complied with, will require the alteration and rebuilding of many New Zealand factories are contemplated in legislation being prepared for the forthcoming session of Parliament. New high standards in factory hygiene and amenities for workers will be incorporated in a new Factories Act, consolidating the existing one and extending it on the basis of the English Factories Act and the report to the New Zealand Government made, by Dr. J. M. Davidson, a British medical inspector of factories. Managements will be given five years in which to bring their factory accommodation up to the new standards Representations for improvements to the existing law have been made by the New Zealand Federation of Labour, whose national secretary, Mr K. McL. Baxter, has spoken to trades councils in all parts of the country. Following are some cf the major provisions in the legislation reported to be in prepara-

-tion: (1) New highly authoritative powers are to be granted to factory inspectors in the inspection and registration of factories. Before a factory plan is approved an inspector must approve the site. He retains authority tor strict supervision throughout the process of building, as well as in the operation of the factory. There will be no right of appeal as in the past against an inspector’s decision.. (2) Hours of work will be restricted to 40, with permission for overtime on Saturdays at time and a half. (3) Signed permits must be obtained for working overtime, which in the past had simply to be notified to the Labour Department. Provision for Meals (4) Provision must be made in factories for meals. There must be rest rooms for women, Provision is also made for canteens in factories. No meal may be eaten in any room where anything is manufactured. (5) The employer will be responsible for ensuring that boys and girls engaged in factories are medically examined and proved fit for work. (6) New standards of lighting, ventilation, and sanitary accommodation will be required. (7) Stringent provision will be made to govern work let out from factories to other quarters. (8) Extensive new measures for safety and for the treatment of accidents will be introduced. “Your executive looks forward to a complete overhaul of the Factories Act, embodying many of the recommendations of Dr. J. M. Davidson to the Director-General of Health in 1945,” said the annual report of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, presented to the ninth annual conference by the retiring president, the Hon. A. McLagan, to-day. “The Factories Amendment Act 1945, made provision for the reduction of hours of work to 40 a week, eight hours a day, and not more than four and a half hours without an interval of not less than three-quarters of an hour. The question of compressing hourly rates for workers previously on more than 40 hours into 40 hours was left to the mercies of the Court of Arbitration. Unfortunately while the amendment provides for the abolition of the second schedule of the act, modification order, 1936 (2), was not repealed. Thia Is a matter which has been taken up by your national executive with the Government.”