SEASONAL FACTORIES. 79

employ of the labour contractor, assorters in the employ of balers and
press hands in the employ of the press house owner. All three classes,
therefore, may claim a different employer and, moreover, are paid on a
different system. The carriers are paid fortnightly by the contractor on
a time-rate basis, obtaining advances against wages when necessary
from their sardars. The labour in the employ of balers is paid on piece
rates, vouchers for work done being cashed as and when the worker
pleases. The press house staff, the only labour which can be characterised
 as permanent, is paid by the month.

Special Treatment of Seasonal Factories.
Prior to 1922, seasonal factories were given a great deal of
latitude, both by the law and by the administration. The recognition
of the need for better protection of the workers led to the stiffening of
the law in respect of seasonal factories and greater vigour in its enforcement.
 The Factories Act now makes little distinction between seasonal
and non-seasonal factories. But in practice the former have tended to
secure in matters of exemption and enforcement, an amount of
latitude, which is not accorded to other factories. The degree of latitude
varies from province to province, thus making the law somewhat
arbitrary and ambiguous. Further, in certain provinces, the natural
concentration of an overworked staff on the perennial factories has resulted
 in too little attention being given to the problems which seasonal
factories create. We consider that the law should recognise - more
definitely the special position of seasonal factories, and that the aim
should be to establish standards which may not be identical with those
of perennial factories, but which will be enforced with as much vigour
as is applicable to the latter. We deal in turn with a number of
questions specially or mainly concerning seasonal factories. In respect
of matters not discussed here, the recommendations regarding the application
 of the Factories Act to perennial factories are intended to apply
to seasonal factories also.
Power of Granting Exemptions.
Dealing first with hours of labour, all the existing restrictions
to which we have referred in connection with perennial factories are
ordinarily applicable to seasonal factories. Provincial ‘Governments,
however, have certain powers of exemption which relate specially to
seasonal factories. All such factories can be exempted from the
provision requiring a weekly holiday. Those factories which are “ at
times dependent on the irregular action of natural forces ” can be
exempted from the provision requiring a manager to specify the hours
of employment beforehand, and tea, coffee and indigo factories can also
be exempted from the provision relating to intervals. The power of granting
 these exemptions is subject to the control of the Governor General
in Council, and provincial Governments may attach such conditions as
appear suitable to the exemptions they give. Exemptions must also
be published in the local official gazette. Other exemovtions ean ala