H—ll

(3) No licences are being issued without first consulting tlie appropriate workers' and employers' unions. (The Act provides merely that they should be notified of licences issued.) Licences are not being issued if it is practicable for the worker to accept regular employment in a factory, or if the worker is already employed in a factory or other full-time employment. The Act provides that, before granting a licence, the Inspector must be satisfied that the person to whom the application relates is in necessitous circumstances or is for special reasons unable to work in a factory, and that the place of work is suitable. In interpreting this, Inspectors have regard to the following considerations: — (i) Special reasons why a person may be unable to work in a factory may include distance, transport difficulties, home-ties, disability, or health. (The last-mentioned factor will lead to the refusal of licence if the article worked on is likely to be contaminated by a communicable disease.) (ii) Where distance or disability is involved the normal maximum hours may be permitted, but if home-ties are advanced as a reason an hours' limitation up to 75 per cent, of normal factory hours is imposed in the interests of the worker's health. (iii) A room specially set apart for the work is insisted upon where the hours worked are 75 per cent, or more of normal factory hours, or in other cases where the Inspector considers a special room necessary. This requirement may be waived where the work is confined to hand needlework. Employers are required to observe the provisions of any relevant award as far as possible, to cover out-workers against personal accident arising out of their work, and to increase their payments proportionately to cover annual and statutory holidays. (Ji) Juveniles in Factories . (1) The number of certificates of fitness issued under section 37 of the Factories Act, 1946, to enable persons under sixteen years of age to work in factories is shown .in the following table :

(2) The total is 2,258, compared with 2,244 in 1947-48. These figures are a little more than half of the totals of ten years ago (1938-39). The number of certificates issued for persons under fifteen shows a reduction of 50 per cent, over the previous year, such certificates being strictly limited to special cases where exceptional circumstances exist. The number of girls in the second group shows no alteration from last year, but the boys show 5 per cent, increase. Certificates issued for school-holiday periods have dropped from 189 in 1946-47 and 53 in 1947-48 to only 14 in 1948-49.

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— Number of Certificates Issued to Persons Aged Fourteen and Under Fifteen. Fifteen and Under Sixteen. Totals. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Certificates issued for period of school holidays Other certificates issued Totals 2 17 19 11 1,071 1 1,137 13 1,088 1 1,156 19 19 1,082 1,138 1,101 1,157