H—ll

(5) Overtime The working of overtime has declined over industry as a whole. As far as factory work is concerned, the following table illustrates the decline :

These figures are in respect of women and boys for whom overtime permits have Tbeen granted. They cover the calendar year 1946. The total number of hours worked has decreased by 40-0 per cent. It is interesting to note that the number of hours authorized, pursuant to the Act, in excess of the statutory maximum in respect of each worker has declined by only 4-3 per cent., although the number of workers for whom such extensions were authorized has increased. This indicates that certain industries (notably the clothing, tobacco, woollen, leather goods, biscuit and confectionery industries), still require the working of considerable overtime, but this increase is more than offset by the general decrease of overtime since the war years. SECTION 3.—FACTORIES (1) General The year under review has seen the passing of the Factories Act, 1946, and although most of the provisions of this Act came into force on Ist April, 1947, it is mentioned here as marking an important event in the history of the industrial legislation of the country. The emphasis of the Act is largely upon conditions relating to health, welfare, safety, and hygiene, and, although its full implementation must take some time, the Department will press forward the improvements which will be necessary as rapidly ■as conditions of supply allow. (2) The Number of Factories and Factory Workers The Factories Act, 1946, changed the date of re-registration of factories from Ist April to Ist February in each year. Re-registration is a process which occupies some time, and it has never been possible, in previous years, to show the numbers which have re-registered until the next year's report. The amendment of the Act is designed, partly, to allow re-registration to take place and provide up-to-date figures of factories Tegistered for the annual report. It has not, however, been possible to do this this year. In the first place, difficulty was encountered in persuading factory occupiers who had paid fees for a year's registration that re-registration was due in February and not in April, as heretofore. Further, a change was made in the Department's trade classification of factories which brings it into conformity with other official statistics, and this resulted in much additional work. The latest figures given represent, therefore, the state of the

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Number of Number of Persons working the Excess Total Hours Hours in Hours in Previous Column. Year. Overtime excess of authorized. StatutoryMaximum. Women. Boys. Total. 1945 1,529,704 207,421 2,672 22 2,694 1946 915,092 197,642 2,703 105 2,808