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73
FACTORIES ACT, 1937.
The above-mentioned Act, which comes into operation on the 1st July, 1938, is a consolidating
and revising measure. The principal act of the existing law in this matter is
styled the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, and although this has been amended by later
enactments, it has not been the subject of any general revision, and it has been felt that,
after 35 years or so, it is to a large extent out of date. The new Act provides greatly improved
arrangements for securing the further safety and welfare of factory workers, and is the
outcome of a careful review of the results of the administration of the 1901 Act, and by
enquiries of numerous committees which have considered definite parts and aspects of the
wide field of industrial regulations ; also research carried out by scientific bodies, and
experiments and investigations conducted by the industries themselves.
The Act abolishes the distinctions which exist in the present law between factories
and workshops and between textile and non-textile factories, and employs only the one
term " Factories." Some slight additional responsibility has been thrown upon the local
authority in regard to sanitary conditions of factories by adding the control of temperatures
to those duties which they already performed. The Act strengthens the existing provisions
in regard to health, safety and welfare and revises the hours of employment.
The requirements relating to Home Work vary slightly from those in the Factory and
Workshop Act, 1901.
Lists of outworkers must now be forwarded to the District Council during the month of
February and the month of August, instead of on or before the 1st February and 1st August ;
must now contain names and addresses of all outworkers so employed during the preceding
six months.
It is made clear that the section applies to outwork, irrespective of whether the materials
for the work are supplied by the occupier or not.
The penalty for a contravention of this section is a fine not exceeding ten pounds. The
penalty under the 1901 Act was a fine not exceeding forty shillings, and in the case of
a second or subsequent offence, not exceeding five pounds.
The period for compliance with a notice under the section relating to employment
of persons in unwholesome premises is reduced from one month to ten days; and
the notice must indicate the Council's reasons for regarding the place as dangerous.

Disinfection.—Trade.—In accordance with the requirements of the South African
Government, the disinfection of second-hand clothing, prior to export to that country, has
been carried on as usual.