THE FACTORIES ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 23 July 1910, Page 6

THE FACTORIES ACT.

•NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT.

In the annual report of the Department of Labor presented to Parliament Appears the following local report supplied by the Inspector of Factories for the New Plymouth district (Air. H. Willis)— There were 104 factories registered in New Plymouth district during the vnav. There were 250S hours' overtime worked by girls and boys under the age of sixteen vears.

During the year 1500 visits of inspection wore paid—B6l to factories in New Plymouth district, and 639 to factories in Mie other towns of .the province. Tlmre have been 30 prosecutions and convictions under .the Act, and 17 cases in which there were arrears of wages and overtime amounting to £O3 1!U. "in all these cases the .amount due was paid when called upon, and consequently no further action was taken.

In addition to the foregoing, a larsm number of complaints were investigated, most of which were without foundation, or quite outside the scope of this Department. Very little difficulty has been experienced this year in connection v.-!*- 1, the observance of the weekly half-ln," for women and boys in factories. There are still some employers, however, who cannot understand why it is necessary, for instance, to give their female employees Thursday (the weekly half-holi-day) and also Oood Friday in the same week, while it is only necessary to gir« their shop assistants* one of these days. Tt takes a good deal of e\p'aining to make them understand the difference between the provisions of the Factories Act and iShops and Offices Act. The holiday is very closely observed throughout the province.

Certificates of fitness enabling young persons to work in factories were granted 14 boys and 10 girls. During the year seven accidents were reported. Fortunately none of these were of a serious nature, and none could be attributed to want of care on the part of the employers i» supplying proper safeguards to machinery. Most of these accidents were due to the carelessness of the employees; they become so familiar wi;n the machines they use that thev will take all sorts of stupid risks, and sooner or later they pay the penalty. I have had exceptional opportunities during my numerous visits to the factories and workrooms throughout the province of observing the conditions of employment, the welfare of the employees, and the relationship between the employees and employers. It is a pleasure to be able to report that the utmost good feeing prevails between employer and employees; employers generally are always willing to do anything reasonable for the comfort and encouragement of their employees, and there are many evidences that this thoughtful consideration is appreciated.

Although most of the workrooms are small in comparison with those in large cities, they are in raanv cases well equipped with machinery, the power for which is obtained either from water or from the extensive use of generated electricity in the form of electric motors.