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 character- 
ised 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 enforce- 
ment. 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 re- 
sulted 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 ap- 
plication 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 grant- 
ing 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