H.—ll.

restricted to women and boys, and indicates an increase from 950,000 hours in 1939 to 1,240,000 hours in 1940, the figures for the combined clothing-manufacturing and woollen-milling industries being— 1939, 476,700 ; and 1940, 655,400 hours. The figures so far obtained for the present year indicate a still greater increase. Although, as stated, figures are not available in respect of male adult workers it may be safely assumed that these workers are employed an equal, if not greater, number of overtime hours. Some indication of the endeavour being made to train workers for essential war industries will be found later in this report.

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 (annual statistics of factory production), as his returns do not cover various small establishments that are included as factories under the Factories Act. 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. Thus the figures shown for 1940-41 chiefly represent the numbers in April, 1940. The reduction in the number of factories registered is explained by a number of small factories ceasing business, probably owing to difficulties of supply and labour or because the occupiers have joined the armed forces. In 1936 the legislation respecting work done elsewhere than in the factory was revised and the licensing of persons employed to do such work was provided for. These provisions apply only to work in connection with textile or shoddy material, but there is provision whereby the Act may be extended to work in connection with other materials. Licenses issued since the legislation was passed have been 1936-37, 2 ; 1937-38, 88 ; 1938-39, 42 ; 1939-40, 47 ; 1940-41, 126. Accidents. In order that they may be comparable with the statistics of other countries, the figures cover the calendar year 1940. The total number of reported accidents to workers in factories during that period (preliminary figures only) was 5,420 (5,055 males and 365 females). Of the total number, 162 of the accidents occurred to workers under sixteen years of age, 1,001 to those between sixteen and twenty, and the remaining 4,257 to those above that age. Of the 6 fatal accidents, 4 were caused by or were due to machinery. Of the total accidents, 784 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.), 199 ; stepping on or striking against fixed objects, 335 ; faulty handling of tools, 1,181; handling of other objects (viz., objects dropped or tipped over, objects falling, or strain due to handling), 1,880; handling of poisonous and corrosive substances, 121; others (miscellaneous), 920; total, 5,420. Disability caused: Temporary disability, 5,303; permanent partial disability, 111. Fatalities, 6. Information in respect of time lost in 5,224 cases shows that a total of 97,626 days were lost, or an average of 18-7 days for each worker. The total amount of compensation paid in the 5,329 cases in respect of which the details have been secured was £77,393 7s. Bd. The following particulars are given of the fatal accidents that occurred during the year : — A digester in a meat-freezing works was being cleaned with boiling water by two workers, one of whom, presumably thinking that the water had drained out of the drain port, released the safetycatch on the door. He was severely scalded by the water which rushed out. Subsequent examination indicated that the worker had not opened the drain port sufficiently to allow the digester to empty properly. A worker on a stone-crushing plant, whilst trying to free a boulder which had become jammed, was struck on the throat by a piece of stone. Workers had instructions that in the event of the crusher becoming jammed the machine was to bo stopped and the employer sent for.

2

v Number of Working Male Female Total Factories. Occupiers. Employees. Employees. Workers. - _ 1913-14 .. .. .. 13,469 15,540 56,655 17,322 87,517 1931-32 .. .. .. 16,253 15,305 56,043 18,545 89,893 1932-33 .. .. .. 16,176 14,701 52,102 19,334 86,137 1933-34 .. .. .. 15,598 14,780 52,357 18,630 85,767 1934-35 .. .. .. 15,900 15,095 57,208 21,291 93,594 1935-36 .. .. .. 16,434 15,165 63,504 23,582 102,251 1936-37 .. .. .. 17,126 16,425 69,088 25,528 111,041 1937-38 .. .. ... 17,559 16,326 77,629 29,646 123,601 1938-39 .. .. .. 17,842 17,128 77,684 28,911 123,723 1939-40 .. .. .. 18,141 16,649 81,507 31,332 129,488 1940-41 .. .. .. 17,940 16,300 82,316 34,291 132,907