H.—ll.

Many firms, by a system of rationing, have sought to tide over the period of depression without reducing their staffs. So far as can be ascertained, this has been done by agreement between the parties, including the unions concerned. The spirit in which these schemes have been adopted is very commendable, and, while a certain amount of sacrifice on the part of some of the workers has been entailed, there is 110 doubt that the rationing of the work has prevented many workers from being thrown into the ranks of the unemployed.

FACTORIES ACT.

The figures as to the number of factories and workers employed therein do not purport to coincide with those of the Government Statistician (Census of Industrial Manufactures), as his returns, which are drawn up purely for statistical purposes, do not cover various small establishments that are included as factories under the Factories Act. It will be noted that, considering the large number of unemployed workers, the figures do not show any marked decrease in the number of workers employed in factories. It might be explained, however, that the above figures are those ascertained at registration-time (April in each year), except that in order to include factories in seasonal industries which might be closed in April any new establishments opened during the year are added ; the figures shown for 1930-31 therefore chiefly represent the numbers in April, 1930. Accidents. As mentioned previously, in order that the accident statistics may be comparable with the statistics of other countries, as urged by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians in 1923, the figures cover the calendar year instead of the financial year. The total number of reported accidents to workers in factories is 2,644 (2,535 males and 109 females). Of the total number, 68 of the accidents occurred to workers under sixteen years of age, 449 to those between sixteen and twenty, and the remaining 2,127 to those above that age. Of the 10 fatal accidents, 3 were caused by or were due to machinery. Of the total accidents, 517 were caused by or were due to machinery. The other principal causes of accidents were found to be as follows : Falls of persons (from stairs, ladders, platforms, &c.), 250 ; stepping on or striking against fixed objects, 142 ; faulty handling of tools, 683 ; handling of other objects (viz., objects dropped or tipped over, objects falling, or strain due to handling), 643 ; handling of poisonous, hot, and corrosive substances, 106 ; others (miscellaneous), 303 : total 2,644. Disability caused : Temporary disability, 2,496 ; permanent partial disability, 138. Fatalities, 10. The following particulars are given of the fatal accidents that occurred during the year : — (1) A foreman was inspecting some machinery when part of his clothing became entangled and he was drawn roulid a shaft, receiving fatal injuries. The machinery was adequately guarded, and the place where the worker was injured could be reached only by passing the obstructing guards. (2) A worker whilst draining benzine from the tank of a motor-car availed himself of the opportunity of filling his automatic cigarette-lighter. Before replacing the lighter in his pocket he unthinkingly lit it, and sustained fatal burns as a result of the explosion that followed. (3) A dairy-factory worker slipped and fell backwards into a tub of boiling water, death occurring as the result of toxaemia following the scalding. (4) A coachworker whilst working on a stage which had been erected round the body of a motor-bus slipped and fell backwards a distance of 6 ft. to the floor, sustaining head injuries, from which he subsequently died. (5) A young woman employed in a cardboard-box-making factory was struck by a falling stack of large cardboard sheets and received fatal injuries to her head. (6) A worker who was whitewashing from a platform which he had moved from its normal position was strangled by his neckcloth catching in an unprotected shaft. The worker had been instructed not to do any whitewashing in close proximity to moving machinery. (7) A labourer at a chemical-manure-manufacturing works while working in a hopper containing ground phosphate was buried by a fall of the phosphate and suffocated. (8) A woodworking machinist while adjusting from a ladder the belt or pulley of a shaft fell on to the concrete floor, sustaining fatal head injuries. (9) A cleaner employed in a furniture-factory slipped while clearing rubbish away from a dovetailing-machine. To preserve his balance he stretched out his hand, which came into contact with the knives of the machine. Tetanus supervened. (10) A sawmill employee, wearing loose clothing, climbed up on a staging to place a belt on a pulley whilst the machine was in motion. His clothing was caught and he was drawn round the shaft, sustaining fatal injuries.

2

Number of j ! Number of Year. j Factories j Movement. ! Factory Movement, registered. ] Workers. 1916-17 .. .. .. 12,455 759 (decrease) 78,188 4,823 (decrease). 1926-27 .. .. .. 16,619 308 (increase) 103,404 1,083 (increase). 1927-28 .. .. .. 16,782 163 „ 102,622 782 (decrease). 1928-29 .. .. .. 16,677 105 (decrease) 102,795 173 (increase). 1929-30 .. .. .. 17,082 405 (increase) 104,448 1,653 1930-31 .. .. .. 17,019 63 (decrease) 104,377 71 (decrease).