Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎193r] (385/442)

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Factory An East India Company trading post. and Workshop [15 July 1912 ] {No. 2) Bill.
The Marquess of SALISBURY: On j
this clause I should like to represent one
matter to the noble Lord who speaks for the
Home Office. The regulations are per
fectly elastic ; they may be good or they
may be bad—vve trust the Home Office for
that—but there is one particular about
which I think there can be no doubt, and
that is the question of artificial light. I do
not think it is possible to defend a system
under which workpeople have to work
always under artificial light. I am confident
that the whole public opinion of this
country is against such a thing. There |
ought to be natural ventilation and natural ]
light. The former it is somewhat difficult ;
to define, but natural light is perfectly ;
possible to define. I know that some
ingenious persons have said that what I
suggest would have the effect of shutting up
mines and underground railways, but I
would point out that neither one nor the
other is included in the schedule. More
over, they could, if necessary, be specially
excluded from being brought in hereafter..
But for people to go year in and year out
working all day permanently in artificial
fight must be bad for their health and ought
to be prevented by Parliament.
Lord STRACHIE : Here again I am
quite ready to consider any suggestion
which the noble Marquess may bring up on
Report dealing with the question of
artificial light, but I have some doubt
whether his views on this question are not
too stringent. He has already said that
some people might say that by so stringent
a regulation you would shut up mines and
underground railways w'hich are lighted
by artificial light. The noble Marquess
said that neither of these was in the
schedule, but he must not forget that the
Home Office has power indefinitely to
extend the schedule. I think we ought
very carefully to consider whether it is
desirable to do this. The noble Marquess
must also remember that it might be held
that basements in London houses come
under the Bill, and we are all aware that
there are many houses in London where
work is carried on in basements which are
lighted by artificial light, if not during the
whole of the day, at any rate during nearly
the whole of the day. I am doubtful,
if artificial light is of a proper kind and
properly shaded and if there is proper
ventilation, whether a great many trades
annot be carried on perfectly well, just
as coal-mining is carried on, in artificial
light—that is to say, if other conditions
are satisfactory; but we are quite ready
at the Home Office to consider this question
between now and the Report stage. I
urge upon the noble Marquess, however,
that it is important to see that the pro
vision does not interfere unduly with any
trade which may be carried on perfectly
well under artificial light.
The Marquess of SALISBURY : I am
obliged to the noble Lord.
Clause 8 agreed to.
Remaining Clauses agreed to.
Schedule:
..l.. • •
The making, cleaning, washing, altering, orna
menting, finishing, and repairing, of wearing
apparel;
Hair-work ;
Lace or embroidery making;
Upholstery and carpet making ;
Watch and clock making and repairing ;
Jewellery work;
Laundry work ;
Typewriting;
Preparation of food for consumption in restaurants
and other establishments for the sale of
refreshments;
and other occupations incidental to any of the fore
going.
The Marquess of SALISBURY: The
Amendment which I desire to move in
the Schedule is of a drafting character.
I am told that it is not quite clear as to
what “ hair-work ” is, and my Amendment
is intended to make it clearer.
Amendment moved—
Schedule, page 4, line 11, leave out (“Hair-work’
and insert (“ Wig making and the process of pre -
paring hair for human wear or adornment”).—
Marquess of Salisbury.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
The Marquess of SALISBURY : On
the Schedule as a whole I wish to repre
sent to the Government that there is a
great omission. We have typewriting
included, but not other clerical work.