72

CHAPTER V.

necessitate initiative, resource and self-reliance, and in the first decade at
least, no small measure of pioneering enterprise. We are convinced that,
with the creation of such posts and the prospect of adequate remuneration
 and secure status, the right type of candidate will be forthcoming.
The appointment of one such woman in every province is desirable;
but, in the event of this not being immediately practicable, we recommend
 their appointment forthwith in Bengal and Madras, and the appointment
 of part-time women officials in those provinces where the number
of women and children employed in regulated industries is smaller. It
is to be hoped, however, that such part-time service will be for a limited
period only.

Strength of the Inspectorate.

Many of these proposals involve an addition to the work of the
factory inspectorate. Proposals follow in respect of docks and other
classes of factories which will enlarge the field for which they are responsible.
 On the other hand, the adoption of some of our proposals, and in
particular those which are made regarding the inspection of seasonal
factories, should set free a considerable part of the time of the permanent
inspectors for duties in connection with perennial factories. The addition
of medical inspectors and of women inspectors should be of substantial
assistance, in spite of the fact that a considerable part of the work of these
officers will be work which at present is necessarily left largely undone.
[n advising regarding the proper strength of the staff, we must observe that
it is difficult to fix an upper limit beyond which the appointment of extra
inspectors would be useless. There is a wide scope for further work, if
inspectors were available to do it, and it is certain that no province has
reached the limit at which additional inspectors could not be employed
with valuable results. At the same time we believe that, provided
medical and women inspectors are appointed as recommended, it might
be possible, except in one or two provinces, to avoid the necessity of
appointing any additional fully qualified inspectors at the present time.
This view is dependent on the adoption and successful working of the
system advocated later for the inspection of seasonal factories and those
factories which are at present unregulated. In the United Provinces,
boiler inspection should be undertaken by a separate staff and we recommend
 that in future these two classes of inspection should invariably be
distinct. Delhi and Ajmer-Merwara are at present under the charge of
the Inspector for the Punjab, who is also responsible for the North-West
Frontier Province. This is too large an area for adequate supervision by
one officer, and we accordingly recommend the separation of Ajmer-Merwara
 and Delhi and the appointment of a separate officer for this area.
Elsewhere, and particularly in Burma and Bihar and Orissa, there is
room for the appointment of Assistant Inspectors of the type indicated
 above. We must, however, emphasise the fact that our conclusions
 on this question are based on the assumption that the inspectorate
 will be kept up to the sanctioned strength throughout the year.
It has happened in the past in more than one province that inspectors