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CHAPTER V, 
be out of all proportion to the benefit conferred on the workers. In 
1926 the Government of India introduced another Bill in which it was 
proposed to prescribe that the temperature should not be injurious to 
health, and to vest local Governments with the power of prescribing 
temperature standards. This also met with adverse criticism, and the 
Government of India accordingly postponed a decision and has so far 
taken no action. 
Suggested Solution. 
We do not think that any satisfactory solution can be found 
which depends on the prescription of standards of temperature 
and their general enforcement irrespective of the circumstances of 
particular factories. There are factories where a substantial reduction 
is possible at a profit to the owner; there are others where the 
cost of even a trifling reduction might be ruinous. It seems 
legitimate and reasonable that in most cases regard should be had, 
not merely to the height of the temperature or of the cooling power 
(which is the better measure, as it takes account of air movement), but 
also to both the cost of the measures which can be adopted to improve 
conditions and the extent of the improvement likely to result from these 
measures. The aim should be to ensure that, when cooling power is de- 
ficient, reasonable measures of improvement shall not be neglected. We 
think that this can be secured by the following means. Where a Chief 
Inspector is of opinion that (1) the cooling power in a factory is so de- 
ficient as to cause serious discomfort or danger to the health of operatives, 
and (2) it can be appreciably increased by methods which do not involve 
an amount of expense which is unreasonable in the circumstances, he 
should be able to serve on the owner an order requiring the adoption of 
specified measures within a given time. Against such an order we would 
provide for an appeal to a tribunal of three appointed by the local Govern- 
ment, the intention being that the Chairman of the tribunal should be an 
impartial official and the other members representative of employers and 
employed with a knowledge of the industry. We think it is most un- 
likely that an experienced inspector would make any unreasonable 
demand. But an adequate safeguard should be found in the presence of 
a tribunal which would be able to decide if the order was reasonable, 
having regard to all the circumstances of the case. 
Humidification. 
We have been dealing above primarily with factories where the 
nature of the processes does not necessitate any modification of the 
natural atmosphere or climate. The case is different where the employer 
artificially alters the atmospheric conditions. Humidification is em- 
ployed in India in cotton textile factories and a few cigarette-making 
factories. In the latter, it does not appear to be carried to an extent 
which produces discomfort. Inthe former a high degree of humidity is 
necessary, and, in securing this, it is possible to cause acute discomfort to 
the operative. On the other hand, it is possible to raise the humidity and 
add to the comfort of the operative. The effect depends largely on the