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extent if the factories were widened and extended. We know in some instances where factories are not big enough to do the work which they can reasonably be expected to do. The Trades Council and those connected with it are distinctly against working overtime at all. No tradesman in a factory likes working overtime. Of course, we recognise that there must be exceptions made. For instance, if machinery were to break down we can see that it would be altogether to the disadvantage of those employed in the factory where it broke down if those who had the work of rehabilitating the machinery were not able to go on with it at once, and stop at it until it was finished. Then, of course, there is the case of persons dealing with perishable goods. I believe there is one trade which has already protested to your Committee, Mr. Chairman, and that is the sausage-case-making union. They are a union which deals with perishable goods. If they do not deal with their product immediately it comes in the stuff is ruined, and we, as reasonable persons, should make exceptions in that case. Then, if a steamer were to go out of repair, and freezing machinery were to break down, it is necessary that this should be fixed up immediately. We consider the overtime as limited in the Bill is quite sufficient, and we, to our knowledge, have not found that it does not enable the employers to turn out their work to time, and we think it should be rigidly adhered to, with the exception of making these exceptions for obvious reasons. We are quite prepared for that, and as a principle we think the least overtime worked the better. If we look round here in the city we will find there are men, and women also, out of employment. I know that in all trades there are men anxious and willing to take a job if it is offered to them. We maintain that, so long as that is the case, there is not the necessity to work overtime to suit those who would like us to believe there is. However, to a certain extent the Council would make exceptions such as in the event of an accident to or breakdown of machinery, or an emergency of that description. Then, we support subsection (4) of clause 19 —viz., "The occupier of a factory shall at all times keep a record-book, called the ' overtime-book,' wherein shall be entered a correct record showing, in the case of each person who is employed during such extended hours under this section, the name of the assistant, and the respective dates and periods of such employment." The Council also supports subsection(2) of clause 20—viz., " A female, or a boy under the age of eighteen years, shall not be employed in any factory in which wet spinning is carried on, unless full and satisfactory provision is made to protect each of them from being wetted, and, where hot water is used, to prevent the escape of steam into any room in which any of them are employed." This provides for the prevention of children being employed at wet spinning unless they are properly protected. The Council also supports clauses 41, 42, and 43 —viz., "If any person employed in or in connection with any factory in the manufacture, handling, or delivery of any bread, meat, milk, confectionery, or other article for human consumption is in a state of health which, in the opinion of the Inspector, is likely to convey germs of disease or other contamination to the said articles, the Inspector shall serve upon the person so employed, either personally or by posting the same addressed to him at the factory, a notice requiring him to submit himself for examination to a medical authority. The Inspector shall serve a like notice upon the occupier of the factory. Immediately upon the service of such notice the person so employed shall cease to do any work in the factory until he has produced to the Inspector a certificate from the authority that his state of health is not likely to convey germs of disease or other contamination to the said articles of food. If the person so employed does any work in or about such factory after service of the said notice upon him without first obtaining the said certificate, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two pounds for every day on which he works in breach of this section. If the occupier of the factory, after service upon him of the said notice, employs such person, he shall be liable to the same penalty as is hereinbefore provided in the case of the person so employed. The provisions of the three last preceding sections shall, mutatis mutandis, extend and apply in the case of every factory wherein is carried on the manufacture, preparation, or treatment of any article of food for sale for human consumption. The Minister may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, extend in whole, or in part, or with modifications, as he thinks fit, the provisions of subsections one and two of section thirty-nine hereof to any other class or description of factory, and in such case those provisions shall extend and apply according to the tenor of the Gazette notice." This prevents the employment of persons suffering from contagious diseases when employed in the manufacture of articles of food for human consumption. We also support clause 44—viz., "If in any building, yard, or place adjoining a factory there exists any nuisance or other sanitary defect which, in the opinion of the Inspector, is likely to injuriously affect the proper sanitation of the factory, or the health of the persons employed therein, he may, by requisition to the owner or occupier of such building, yard, or place, require him to effectually abate such nuisance or amend such defect within a time named in the requisition. If such owner or occupier fails to duly and faithfully comply with such requisition, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds for every day during which such non-compliance continues. The liability of such owner or occupier under this section shall be irrespective of his liability under any other Act: Provided that he shall not be punished twice for the same offence. The Inspector shall not issue such requisition until he has notified the local authority of the nuisance or sanitary defect, nor unless the local authority has failed to cause the nuisance or sanitary defect to be abated or amended within a reasonable time after receiving such notification. The provisions of section fifty-five hereof shall, mutatis mutandis, apply in the case of proceedings under this section." Our Council also supports clause 56 —viz., "The payment by an occupier of any penalty under this Act for non-payment for overtime, or for non-payment of wages, or salary in respect of a holiday, shall not relieve him from his civil liability to the person employed." The Council also ask that the annual report be compiled by the Chief Inspector, as at present. We notice that in the new Bill the " Minister of Labour " supersedes the word " Inspector " in reference to the preparation of the annual report in every case. We think the Chief Inspector is in touch with the Inspectors throughout the colony, and, as his work has been done excellently in the past,