FACTORY CONDITIONS

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15974, 17 November 1919, Page 5

FACTORY CONDITIONS

POSITION IN WANGANUI DEPARTMENTS. ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the local Inspector of Factories, Mr Gohns, upon factory conditions in Wanganui awl district;*— The period mentioned has been one of general prosperity for all industries in the Wanganui district. Dairy Industry.—ln consequence of the exceptionally good weather, the dairy factories have had large quantities of milk supplied to them, and at times have h»d considerable difficulty in dealing with all that cs.me in. As the prioes of both butter and cheese have hoen high, the season can bo considered satkfactary to those connected with the industry. Sawmills.—All through the year there has been a continuous demand for hands, and the mill-owners have been unable to supply all timber ordered. Building Trades.—The building trades have been very busy, but were hampered by a shortage of carpenters, and at the present time there is every indication that it will continue so for some time to come. Dressmakers and milliners, shop and factory tailoreases have had an exceptionally busy year. In all these lines manufacturers have complained of their inability to obtain a sufficient number of workers. Owing to the return of our troops, journeymen tailors have had a good run of trade. Cabinetmaking and furnishing trades are very good, and at times a shortage of journeymen has existed. Now that God ha? been pleased to end the great war, it is to be hoped that the great inconveniences that have been experienced during the past four and a half years will soon be past, and that all things in general will become again normal, THE FACTORIES ACT. This Act has worked very well. For tered, being the same number as last year, and I am pleased to report that they have all been inspected. Overtime Worked in Factories. —170 persons worked 4-753 Lours j of this number 57 tailoreeaes worked 1677 hours. Permits to Young Persons.—Fifty permits were issued to boys and girls under 16 years of ago to work in factories, 37 for boys and 23 for girls, and it is to be regretted that not half that number passed Standard VI. Inquiries have been mad© and reports forwarded in respect to 70 accidents. Fortunately, none were of a fatal character, and the major portion were trivial. I have, nevertheless, deemed it incumbent upon employers to take every possible precaution and safeguard employees who hue engaged in working machinery of a dangerous character, and I am pleased to report that the present Inspectors of Machinery are making a special effort to see that all machinery, etc., is guarded. Fifty complaints wore dealt with, and I am pleased to report that there were no prosecutions under this Act. During the past few years the practice of shopkeepers registering or wanting to register a room in a private dwelling for the purpose of making up clothing of various descriptions has been very pronounced, and I am of tho opinion that this practice should at once be- prohibited. The room where tho work is performed is generally tho kitchen, and it is almost impossible to say that no work is performed outside the hours fixed by tho Act. therefore recommend, that the practice of registering such places when there is only one person employed should he prohibited, or make it compulsory that, one room must bo set aside for the j&rformanco of the work and that it would be illegal to perform the work in any other part of the dwelling. SHOPS AND OFFICES -ACT. This Act, with few exceptions, has worked satisfactorily during the year. The shopkeepers generally have been found ready to keep within the. limits of the requirements, and, &s a rule, a warning has been quite sufficient to have any matter rectified. Fifty-nine complaints were dealt with, and it was found necessary to take 15 cases to the Magistrate’s Court, convictions being recorded in 10 cases. 'The total amount of fines and costs was ilB 18s. Tho other five cases are still before the Court.. 1169 hours’ overtime were worked by 170 shop assistants. There are 442 shops in. this district. I have again to suggest that this Act should be amended in the direction of placing the same restriction on the employment of young persons under tho age of 16 years as is contained in the Factories Act. It is a common practice to see children from 6 to 12 years of age delivering milk, and complaints have from time to time been made as to their being late from school, and the general duluess of these boys during lesson hours. SERVANTS’ REGISTRY OFFICE ACT. There are three offices registered under this Aet, all of which are conducted in a satisfactory manner. FOOTWEAR ACT. Twenty-three bootshops were inspected, with the result that thirteen letters of warning were sent re breaches of the Act. INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. During the year there have been no strikes. , No ’-Treat difficulty has been experienced in%nforcing the provisions of this Act, or of any award or agreement in force. At present there are 44 awards and agreements applying to this district. During the year inquiries have been made into 123 complaints of all kinds. Some breaches were committed through ignorance or oversight, generally in a failure to give increases of wages when due, or to pay full overtime rates for work done. Altogether the sum of .£55 Os lid was collected from employers under these heads, and it was found necessary to take six cases to the Magistrate’s Court for breaches of awards, judgment being given in favour of the Department in each case, the total amount of penalties being <£lß 15s. During the year four cases were taken by one of the local unions, and in each case judgment was given for defendant with costs. WORKERS’ DWELLINGS ACT. No new dwellings hare been erected, but the dwellings in the districts are well kept?, and the occupiers are most regular in their payments.