FACTORIES AND SHOPS BILL. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 20,

North Otago Times, Issue 778, 22 July 1890, Page 4

FACTORIES AND SHOPS BILL. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 20,

An important bill — one of the most important measuros laid before Parliament for many a day— was circulated yealerday morning. I refer to the factories and Shops Bill, which is paronted by the Hon. MuHlulop. It is popularly thought; that this bill in duo to the roport of tho Sweating Commission, but I have reaaon to believe that its real fountain hoad is a long oherished desire on tho pait of the Government to introduce as much as possible of that kind of Socialistic Legislation whoso objoot is the greatest good to tho greatest number. As to tho bill itself it deSnoa a factory wock« •'ootn as any office, building, or place in wbioh any number of Chinese, or aix or more persons of any other raco, aro employed, and any place where steam or other mechanical po^er ia used, Any place in which only ine-m-bera of one family are employed without steam or other power, and any place where tho employment is oarried on for less than threo conseoutivo months in the year, is expressly excluded from tho definition. Careful provision is made as to the sanitary Htate of all work places, with special preparations against overcrowding, PJxcept in newspaper office?, no person under 18, and no woman is (except on Saturdays, half-holidays, or when the Colonial Seoretary deems the exigencies of trade to require it) to bo employed for more tbau five hours without an interval of at loaet half an hour for a meal, The talcing of meals in workrooms is forbidden, and owners of all but the smallest factories ace required to provide a special eating room. Bake-houoos aro subject to very etringonb regulationa as to sleeping rooms, drainage, ventilation, and oloset conveniences; and ono or two 1 other industries are also exceptionally dealt with. In manufacturing tradea no female and no male under 16 is to bo allowed to work moro than 48 hours in a week, but power is given to the Colonial Secretary to suapen<l tbid restriction so long as the suspension does not excood six months, aud subject to such conditions regarding overtime and hours of labor an he may think requisite, Fourteen is the roinimum a^e for faotory or workroom eraploymoat. No poraon under 16 is lo be ouiployed unless tbo medical authorities have certified to bis or her (itness to perfoim the dally quota of work. Boys under 14 and girls under 16 aro nob to be permitted to work before" 6 a.m,, or after 6 p.m. In printing oflioes no boy under 16 and no girl under 18 is t) work at typo setting more than eight hours, and night work is only to be done by suoh persona on the condition that for tvrelvo houra before and twelve hours after they are to be off duty. All women and all lads under 18 are to have holidays on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Qucod'b Biithday, and all public holidays proolaitned by the Governor, beaidor) a half holiday every Saturday, beginning from 2 o'clock. In any city, borougb, or town dietriot where a Satuiday half holiday would bo iuoonvenient, tho local authority may substitute Morae other working day.