FACTORIES LAW

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1922, Page 2

FACTORIES LAW

BILL PASSED BY HOUSE.

The Factories Bill, a recently-prepared compilation of the existing law, with one or two minor amendments, wu committed in the House, of Representatives last night. Mi-. E. J. Howard (Chriitchurch South) suggested that "sweating" was being-carried on in the homes to which factory work wag taken. He pointed to clause 29, which opened: "For the better suppression of what is commonly known as the ''sweating evil,' the following provisions shall apply in every case where the occupier of a factory lets or gives out work of any description in connection wilh textile or shoddy material to be done by any person elsewhere than in the factory." ' He suggested that the words "in connection ,with textile or shoddy material" should be struck out to make the Act apply to all work. .. . The Minister said no member had any desire to establish sweating ''condition*.' He had already promised to investigate the matter thoroughly during the recess. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said that the Labour Bills Committee had considered the point, but wished to be sure that any amendment proposed would not violate the' sanctity of the home by throwing it open to the inspectors. t Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) and Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) asked why the Minister had not added to the Bill a clause making daylight baking compulsory. The Minister said the point had been thoroughly thrashed out before the Labour Bills Committee, but it had been unable to draft a clmise to give satisfaction to both parties. He would find out during the recess what exactly had occurred in Australia in connection with daylight baking. Sir John Luke quoted a local expert as saying that one automatic bakery would have to spend £21,000 if the scheme were adopted, and that the cost to the consumer would be increased by one penny. , Mr. M'Combg. moved a new clause to sive effect largely to the Daylight Baking Bill defeated earlier in the session, This was lost on the voices. Mr. M'Combs accepting the statement of the Minister that the matter would be investigated. The Bill was reported without amendments, read a third time and passed.