The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1901. LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 285, 3 December 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1901. LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Thbouqh the courtesy of the locil Inspector of Factories, we hvae been supplied with a precis of th 9 more radical alterations of the law relating to factories, which have been effected by the 1 Factories Act, 1901, and which it is of vital importance should ba known and understood throughout the community. In the interpretation clause the " Arbitration Court" is defined. This is , in order to give distinctness to the pro ' vision in section 18, regulating the 1 hours of work, which declares that when in any award of the Arbitration , provision is made fixing tbe hours in any trade, this section shall, so long as the award remains in force, be read and construed subject thereto. Here we have what we believe is the uni precedented case of an award or finding of a judicial court over-riding an Act of Several important changes have been made in the definition of a " factory," which now means ' " any building, office, or place in which two or more persons are employed." It is important to notice that the words "for hire or reward" in the Act of 1894 have been omitted. The effect is that many establishments of a mors or ■ less benevolent character now come under the Act, and must be registered 1 and inspected. Buildingsjwhere any article of ,human consumption is baked for sale, whether the employees receive piyment or not, have also to ba registered. The interpretation clause con- • tains a very exact definition- of the different classes of workers. "Male workers" means every male over the age of 16 years, " woman " means a female irres- > pective of age, "boy" means every ' male under 16 years of ago. Section 18, which imposes limits to working hours, is really the crux of the measure, i For the first time in the history of factory legislation adult male employee* ! are brought within the restrictive provisions aa to hours of work. A " male i worker" is not to be employed in oi 1 about a factory for more than 48 hours, excluding meal times, in any week, noi for more than eight and tbree-quartei hours in any day, nor for more thai five hours continuously without ai interval of at least three-quarters of at hour for a meal. These limits are, how . ever, not to apply to any worker em ployed in getting up steam foi machinery, or in making preparatioi for the work of the factory, A womat or boy is not to be employed for mori than 45 hour*, excluding meal times in any one week, nor more than eigh and a-quarter hours in any one day nor more than four and a-q jar ter hour continuously without an interval of a least three-quarters of an hour for i meal, nor at any time after 1 p.m. ii the afternoon of one day in the week nor in case of women at any time be tween 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., nor in th< case of boys at any time between 6 p.m and 7.45 a.m. These provis'ons an somewhat modified in the case o woollen mills. The second schedul contains a list of works and factorie exempted "under tbe operation o Section 18," viz,, freezing workp, dair factories (including creameries), fell mongeries and pelt works, fish curinj or preserving works, jam factoriee bacon factories and sausage-casing fac tories. In respect to cvertime, thi prescribed number of working Lour may be extended from time to time but such extension in the case of womei and boys is not to be more than threi hours in any day, nor more than twi consecutive days in any week, no: more than thirty days m any year, o on any holiday or half-holiday. Even person employed during extended hour is to be paid therefor at leas one-fourth as much again as thi ordinary ratd When the ordinary rate is by time and not piece-work, thi overtime rate is not to be less than 6< an hour for those whose wages do no exceed 10s per weak, and 9d for al other persons. There are quito a num ber of special provieions in connectioi with the employment of women anc boys in order to secure the conserva tion of their health. In every cas< where the number employed exceed: four, the employer is required to pro vide a fit and proper room in which thi] may take their meals, but the Insppco is given discretionary power to permi use of any room in his opinion sm'tab'e No boy or girl under 14 years of age ii to be employed in a factory except ii special casts authorised in writing b; the Inspector. Every person who i employed in any capacity in a factorj is to be entitled to receive payment a such ra'.e as may be agreed upon, bu in no case must this be less than fiw I shillings per week for boys and girli under 16 years of age, and thereafte

an annual increase of at kasfc three shillings weekly, till twenty years of age. Payment of wages is to be made in full at not more than fortnightly intervals. The number of whole holidays is increased by the addition of Libour Day, and there must be a half holiday oo every Saturday from 1 p.m. This, i it is to be noticed, is now compulsory \ in factories throughout New Zealand.! Wages for whole, or half holidays are in! the case of women and boys under 18; to be at the same rate as ordinary work- j ing days. Under this provision, em-; ployers will hare to pay wages to women and boys under 18 for 32 fall days in.the year on which they do nor, work, six whole holidays, and 52 halfholidays. The provisions of the Act of 1894 as to acoidents are amplified, and mora power given to inspectors in respect to safeguarding machinery and dangerous appliances. Firo escapes have to be provided in every factory! where persons are employed upsta'rs. Sanitation" is very carefully provided for, the lospecter is specific illy empowered to abate any nuisance or sanitary defect, and, if necessary, report to the district health offic ir. Under certain circumstances, he is given authority to abate a nuisance at the cost of the occupier. The penal clauses are considerably enlarged »ad elaborated. For a breach of the Act a penalty of £lO may be imposed, and £5 for every day the offence is repeated.