FACTORY LAW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 4

FACTORY LAW

VITAL CHANGES WELFARE OF WORKERS PROPOSED LEGISLATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON. June 11. Drastic changes in the factory law, which, to be complied with, ‘ will require the alteration or rebuilding of many New Zealand factories, are contemplated in legislation which is being prepared for the forthcoming session of Parliament. New high standards in factory hygiene and amenities for workers will be incorporated in a new Factories Act consolidating the existing one and extending it on the basis of the English Factories Act, and the report to the New Zealand Government made by Dr J. M. Davidson. British medical inspector of factories. Management will be given five years in which to bring their factory accommodation up to the new standard. Representations for improvements to the existing law have been made by the New Zealand Federation of Labour, whose national secretary, Mr K. McL. Baxter, has spoken to the trades councils in all parts of the country. Major Provisions Some of the major provisions in the legislation reported to be in preparation are as follows: 1. New highly authoritative powers are to be granted to factory inspectors in the inspection and • registration of factories. Before a factory plan is approved the inspector must approve of the site, and he retains authority for strict supervision throughout the process of building, as well as in the operation of the factory. There will be no right of appeal, as in the past, against the inspector’s decision. 2. Hours of work will be restricted to 40, with permission for overtime on Saturdays at time and a-half. 3. Signed permits must be obtained for working overtime, which, in the past, had simply to be notified tn the Labour Department. 4. Provision must be made in factories for meals. There must be rest rooms lor women. Provision is also made for canteens in factories. No meal may be eaten in any room where anything is manufactured. 5. The employer will be responsible for ensuring that boys and girls engaged in factories are medicajly examined and proved, fit for work. 6. New standards of lighting, ventilation, and sanitary accommodation will be required. 7. Stringent provision will be made to govern work let out from factories to other quarters. 8. Extensive new measures for safety and for the treatment of accidents will be introduced.

“Complete Overhaul”

“ Your executive looks forward to a complete overhaul of the Factories Act, embodying many of the recommendations of Dr J. M. Davidson to the Dir-ector-general of Health in 1945,” said the annual report of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, presented to the ninth annual conference by the retiring president, Mr A. McLagan, M.L.C., today. “ The Factories Amendment Act, 1945, made provision for the reduction of hours of work to 40 a week, eight hours a day and not more than four hours and a-half without an interval of not less than three-quarters of an hour.

"The question of compressing the hourly rates for workers previously on more than 40 hours into 40 hours was left to the mercies of the Court of Arbitration,” the report adds. “Unfortunately, while the amendment provides for the abolition of the second schedule of the Act, modification Order 1936/2 was not repealed. This is a matter which has been taken up by your National Executive with the Government.”